Missouri could soon join the growing number of states that allow sports betting.
The Show-Me State will soon learn if the signature drive to put sports betting on the ballot was successful this November. Several of the state’s professional sports franchises were at the forefront of the movement, collecting well over the 180,000 signatures needed to put an issue on the ballot. Now they’re waiting for the Missouri Secretary of State to certify the signatures and give final approval.
Years of legislative hurdles have prevented Missouri from legalizing sports betting, leading industry advocates to opt for a referendum that allowed them to bypass political battles and take the issues directly to Missourians.
“It is estimated that Missourians currently place hundreds of millions of dollars in bets each year, either through illegal, offshore gambling websites or by driving to neighboring states to place wagers,” professional sports betting group Winning for Missouri Education said in a statement. “By legalizing sports betting in Missouri, the initiative would stop much of this activity and instead provide tens of millions of dollars annually to Missouri classrooms, where teachers are among the lowest paid in the country.”
FanDuel and DraftKings funded the project and helped raise over $6 million.
If the signatures are accepted, Missourians will vote this November to decide whether to legalize the industry.
Missouri could set a precedent for other states
While the majority of states now allow some form of legal sports betting, a few are still struggling to do so. These states also face obstacles in passing laws, forcing their residents to cross the border to bet on sports.
If Missouri’s ballot initiative is successful, several other states could quickly follow suit. This could also lead to more operators funding future initiatives as they look to open more markets. Since public support for sports betting remains strong, this could be an easy path to legalization for several markets.
