In a significant win for gambling advocates, Missouri voters have narrowly approved Amendment 2, which legalizes sports betting in the state. With the NFL playoffs approaching in January, the amendment paves the way for legal sports wagering, although the logistics of whether bettors will use local platforms or out-of-state accounts remain unclear.
Election Results and Implications
The final count of votes was tight, with Amendment 2 passing by just over 14,000 votes out of nearly 2.9 million cast. The results were particularly uncertain until late reports came in from Greene County, which voted 55% against the measure, reflecting the divided sentiment across the state. The approval of Amendment 2 stands in contrast to the defeat of Amendment 5, which sought to authorize a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks. This rejection marks only the third time since 1980 that Missouri voters have turned down a gambling expansion proposal.
The campaign to support Amendment 2 saw unprecedented financial backing, with nearly $41 million poured in by major online sports betting companies, FanDuel and DraftKings. This massive investment successfully countered a $14 million opposition campaign led by Caesars Entertainment, which scaled back its efforts just weeks before the election.
Historical Context and Future Expectations
Historically, Missouri has had a mixed relationship with gambling proposals. The last defeat of a gambling measure occurred in 2004, similar to the failed Amendment 5 this election. Under current state law, new casinos must be located within 1,000 feet of the Missouri or Mississippi rivers, complicating expansion efforts.
Amendment 2 is positioned to fundamentally change the landscape of sports betting in Missouri. It allows each of the state’s six major professional sports teams to establish retail betting locations near their venues and offer branded online platforms. Additionally, the six casino operators in Missouri can also set up retail sportsbooks and provide online betting options.
Projections indicate that around $21.8 billion could be wagered in Missouri over the first five years of legalized sports betting, with over 98% of those bets anticipated to be placed online. The state is expected to see a net revenue of approximately $134 million during that timeframe, a significant boost to the state’s economy.
The Future of Amendment 5
With the rejection of Amendment 5, the future of a new casino at the Lake of the Ozarks remains uncertain. The project, proposed by the Osage Nation, is awaiting federal approval to establish a property for a casino and convention center. This development could offer a competing option to the newly legalized sports betting.
Should negotiations between the state and the Osage Nation fail to materialize or be conducted in good faith, the tribe retains the right to pursue legal action in federal court. This potential conflict illustrates the complexities of gambling regulation in Missouri, where tribal interests and state laws often intersect.
A New Era for Gambling in Missouri
The approval of Amendment 2 signals a new era for gambling in Missouri, positioning the state alongside more than 35 others that have legalized some form of sports betting since the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban in 2018. As Missouri prepares for this significant shift, the focus will now turn to the implementation of the new regulations and how this will impact local economies and the state’s overall gambling landscape.
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