Missouri’s professional sports teams have joined forces to legalize sports betting in the state. On Thursday, they submitted over 340,000 voter signatures to the Secretary of State in an effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow sports wagering in Missouri. The coalition includes popular team mascots like Fredbird, Sluggerrr and Louie who enthusiastically carried boxes filled with signatures to the Jefferson City office.
If approved by voters, the proposed amendment would permit each of Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer both onsite and mobile sports betting. Teams would have control over onsite betting and advertising within a 400-yard radius of their stadiums and arenas. Additionally, two mobile sports betting operators would be licensed directly by the Missouri Gaming Commission. A portion of the licensing fees and taxes generated, at least $5 million annually, would be allocated towards programs addressing problem gambling, with the remainder going towards education at various levels.
Missouri has been unable to pass legislation in the Senate to legalize sports wagering despite efforts from several states having already done so. This makes it one of the few states where such activities remain illegal more than five years after a U.S Supreme Court ruling on the matter. The initiative is backed by prominent sports organizations like the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams who are all part of this coalition effort