Are Missouri Voters Ready to Bet on Sports?

This November voters in the Show-me state will get to weigh in on whether or not they want to place bets on sporting events in state.

Currently Missourians have to go to neighboring states Illinois, Iowa and Kansas to legally place bets. Amendment 2 on the ballot would make it legal to place wagers on sporting events at casinos or on sporting apps within the Missouri state borders.

Get our free mobile app

The road has been long for sports betting in Missouri with the idea being introduced years ago in Jefferson City, and the Mo. Gaming Commission has paid attention to what has worked and what hasn’t in states that leaned into sports gaming quickly.

Missouri public schools stand to be the big winners when it comes to the ten percent cut of tax money generated by sports gaming for the state, and have been actively promoting and helping get the amendment onto the ballot for November.

There are thirteen casinos in Missouri that would get licenses and have been working toward being ready when and if the voters approve of the amendment, plus the six pro sports franchises would also get licenses allowing them to have gambling sites at/near team stadiums.

Polling on Amendment 2 has been back and forth over the last year with those in favor gaining momentum through the summer.

Regulations can be added and altered by state legislators if the amendment passes in November with the Mo. Gaming Commission providing oversight.

The state’s estimates are for $29 million per year with $24 going to public schools and higher education.

Voting occurs November 5th.