Missouri Group Submits Signatures To Let Voters Decide On Sports Betting

Article By Larry Henry Last Updated: May 2^nd, 2024 · 2 min read

Missouri Group Submits Signatures To Let Voters Decide On Sports Betting — © USA Today

The organizers who want to put Missouri sports betting on the Nov. 5 ballot submitted more than 340,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office on Thursday.

The Winning for Missouri Education coalition, which seeks to put the issue before voters in November, includes six professional sports teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams.

At a news conference Thursday, Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, said the team is proud to support the initiative.

“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," he said.

The coalition said an initiative petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot requires about 180,000 valid signatures. The deadline to submit signatures to the secretary of state is May 5.

According to the coalition, county clerks then count the signatures, with the secretary of state’s office usually certifying successful signature-gathering efforts around July.

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

Spend $5, Get $200 In Bonuses ($50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days for 21 days )

Valid Today:

Bet Now

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Missouri Surrounded By Legal Sports Betting States

Currently, sports betting is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Of the eight states that border Missouri, all except Oklahoma have legal sports betting.

“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.

At the Capitol in Jefferson City, legislators continue to debate whether to approve any sports betting bills. Those measures have failed in the past and have run into resistance again. This year's legislative session is set to end on May 17.

If sports betting is legalized under the proposed November ballot question, Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams would be allowed to offer onsite and mobile sports betting, according to published reports.

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days ($50 Bonus Bets per day)

Valid Today:

Bet Now

Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY), Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. (NC), Call or Text 800-889-9789 (TN).

Voters Support Sports Betting In Missouri, Polls Show

In its signature-gathering campaign, the Winning for Missouri Education coalition released polling information indicating more than 60% of Missourians support the initiative to legalize sports betting.

During a recent interview on Gambling.com's "The Edge," Gary Jenkins, an attorney and former Kansas City Police Department intelligence detective, said Missouri residents would vote to legalize sports betting. He said Missourians are already traveling out of state to bet on sports.

“We’re losing millions and millions in tax dollars,” Jenkins said.

Under the initiative, a 10% tax would be applied to sports betting revenue, generating funding for public education. The Missouri Gaming Commission would regulate sports betting.