Missouri Legal Sports Betting Confirmed

Missouri state election officials have confirmed that a sports betting measure on the November election ballot passed with 50.5% of the vote.

The ballot allows for a constitutional amendment to take immediate effect legalizing sports betting. However, sportsbooks will not launch until next year. The amendment has a deadline of December 1st 2025.

A representative for Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft stated on Thursday that any recount request must be submitted by someone directly involved in one of the campaigns. However, a spokesperson for the opposition group, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, confirmed that they do not intend to request a recount.

The Missouri Gaming Commission will also license two mobile sports betting operators.

Sports betting revenue in Missouri will be subject to a 10% tax, lower than the national average of 19% paid by sportsbooks to states last year. The initiative earmarks at least $5 million annually from licensing fees and taxes for problem gambling programs, with the remaining tax revenue allocated to elementary, secondary, and higher education.

The measure reached the ballot through a petition initiative after repeated efforts to legalize sports betting failed in the state Senate.

Record Breaking Ballot Campaign

Missouri’s six major professional sports teams — the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Current, and St. Louis City SC — contributed a combined $2 million to the effort.

In contrast, the $14 million opposition campaign was entirely funded by Caesars Entertainment, which owns three of Missouri’s 13 casinos.

This brings the total number of states with legal sports betting to 39 along with the District of Columbia.

Jenny Tang

Missouri Legal Sports Betting Confirmed