More Than 340,000 Signatures Submitted in Favor of Missouri Sports Betting

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsThe Winning for Missouri Education coalition submitted more than 340,000 signatures in favor of Missouri sports bettingSignatures submitted to the Missouri Secretary of StateCoalition needs roughly 180,000 valid signatures to place sports betting question on November general election

Three Missouri professional sports mascots delivered hundreds of thousands of signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State last week in favor of legalized sports betting.

Mascots from the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Blues submitted more than 340,000 signatures to place a Missouri sports betting question on the state’s November general election ballot. The St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis CITY SC, and the Kansas City Current are supporting the sports betting initiative in the state.

Roughly 180,000 valid signatures are necessary to place the question on the ballot.

No Chance in Legislature

With the signature collecting process now complete, the signatures will now be counted by county clerks and the Secretary of State’s Office. According to the Winning for Missouri Education coalition, state officials will let them know if the campaign is successful something around July.

“As one of only 12 states without legalized sports betting, Missouri took a significant step forward today in ensuring that these revenues stay in Missouri to help our communities and classrooms,” said Jack Cardetti, spokesman for Winning for Missouri Education. “We are grateful for the support from Missouri’s professional sports franchises, who have been crucial in creating the opportunity for Missourians to vote directly on this issue in November.”

If legalized, sports betting would be taxed at a rate of 10% and would directly support Missouri public education.

“As Missouri remains one of the few states without legalized sports betting, we are thrilled that more than 340,000 Missourians supported placing this issue on the November ballot. The St. Louis Cardinals are proud to support this initiative, which will boost Missouri’s professional sports teams, our fans, and Missouri classrooms,” said Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals.

According to the initiative, each Missouri sports team and casino will be eligible to operate retail and online sports betting. Each sports team and casino would be eligible for one retail sports betting license through the bill. Additionally, each sports team and casino would be eligible for one online sports betting license. Each team and casino would be able to partner with one online sports betting operator.

One More Missouri Sports Betting Bill Moves Forward

A bill from Rep. Crystal Quade (D-132) to regulate sports betting and video lottery terminals (VLTs) moved forward in late April, but likely has little chance at approval before the state’s final day of session on May 15.

Quade’s bill, HB 2835, calls for the legalization of sports betting and VLTs in the state. VLTs have been a divisive factor in Missouri’s sports betting journey, as most lawmakers have preferred to keep the two issues apart. Missouri professional sports team have called for the separation of the two issues as well.

The bill completed its public hearing with the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology on April 30.

However, since 2022 Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-21) has successfully blocked and filibustered any and all attempts to legalize sports betting in the Senate for bills that did not include the legalization of VLTs.

Quade’s bill taxes sports betting at a 10% rate and sets up a regulatory framework for VLTs. The bill prohibits VLTs from being within one-mile of a school and taxes the games at a 33% rate on revenue, along with a $100,000 annual license and $500 fee for each device at a facility.

The bill’s legalization is unlikely with the state’s session coming to a close next week.