The Missouri secretary of state has greenlit a public vote in November on whether to introduce sports betting statewide in a move that would allow Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer onsite and mobile sports betting.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has issued a ‘certificate of sufficiency’ allowing sports betting to be included on the November 5 ballot. To receive a Certificate of Sufficiency, a minimum number of valid signatures must be obtained in six of the eight congressional districts in Missouri. Initiative petitions meeting sufficiency requirements ware then placed on the November 5 statewide ballot
The ballot question reads: “Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators; restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21; allow license fees prescribed by the Commission and a 10 per cent wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for education after expenses incurred by the Commission and required funding of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund; and allow for the general assembly to enact laws consistent with this amendment?”
State governmental entities estimate onetime costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2m, and initial license fee revenue of $11.75m. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9m annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
