Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) carries the ball out of the backfield in the first quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
- Caesars Entertainment has donated more than $4 million to a campaign fighting against the Missouri sports betting initiative
- Caesars donated the campaign funding to Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment
- Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment filed as an official committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission last this week
Caesars recently donated more than $4 million to a campaign actively fighting the Missouri sports betting ballot initiative.
Through its three Missouri based casinos, Caesars donated $4,156,202.79 to Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, a campaign officially opposing the sports betting initiative that will appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
According to multiple reports, Caesars is not in favor of the proposed ballot initiative, which would only provide the gaming company with one online sportsbook license if sports betting is approved in the state.
Opposition Mounting in Missouri
According to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Caesars made four separate donations to Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment. The campaign officially filed with the commission on Sept. 10 to oppose the sports betting initiative question.
Caesars made the following contributions through its corporate entity and three separately owned land-based Missouri casinos:
- Caesars Enterprise Services: $156,202.79
- Tropicana St. Louis: $1,300,000
- Harrah’s North Kansas: $1,400,000
- Isle of Capri Boonville: $1,300,000
According to a press release from the campaign, the amendment will only benefit the out-of-state corporations that created the initiative.
“Amendment 2 is a bad deal for Missouri. This deceptive measure was written by and for the financial benefit of its out-of-state corporate sponsors and funders,” said Brooke Foster, a spokesperson for Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, in a statement.
Under the proposed ballot initiative, the state’s casinos would receive a single online sports betting license and two untethered licenses will be available for sports betting companies to operate in Missouri. Caesars likely has a problem with this aspect of the proposed initiative, as previous iterations of Missouri sports betting bills allowed casino operators to have multiple online sports betting skins.
Each Missouri sports team and casino would be eligible to operate retail and online sports betting. Each team and casino would be eligible for one retail sports betting license through the bill. Additionally, each sports team and casino would be eligible for one online sports betting license. Each team and casino would be able to partner with one online sports betting operator.
Lawsuit Did Not Stop Sports Betting Initiative
The ballot opposition is now mounting after a lawsuit attempting to strip the ballot of the sports betting initiative question was defeated.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Aug. 21 by plaintiffs Jacqueline Wood and Blake Lawrence, claimed the Winning for Missouri Education campaign came up short for valid signatures in Missouri’s first and fifth Congressional districts and Ashcroft’s determination of sufficiency was incorrect.
The plaintiffs alleged that Secretary of State John “Jay” Ashcroft improperly calculated the number of signatures because he failed “to take the total number of people who voted for governor in 2020, multiply that number by eight percent, and then divide that number equally among Missouri’s eight Congressional Districts.”
A judge determined that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient evidence to show Ashcroft incorrectly calculated the necessary valid signatures and ruled in favor of the defendants.
FanDuel Donates to Support Campaign
FanDuel donated another $1.5 million to the Winning for Missouri Education campaign in support of the ballot initiative on Friday, Sept. 13. FanDuel does not own a land-based casino in the state and would likely be one of the sportsbooks (DraftKings the other) that would apply for an untethered online sports betting license if the ballot initiative is approved.
FanDuel and DraftKings have combined to donate $11.55 million to the campaign.
Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
Caesars Entertainment, one of the largest casino and entertainment companies in the world, has recently announced its significant financial contribution to combat a ballot initiative in Missouri that seeks to legalize sports betting in the state. The company has pledged millions of dollars to oppose the initiative, citing concerns about the potential negative impact of legalized sports betting on their business and the community as a whole.
The ballot initiative, known as Amendment 3, would allow for the legalization of sports betting at casinos and other licensed establishments in Missouri. Proponents of the initiative argue that it would generate much-needed revenue for the state and provide a safe and regulated environment for sports betting enthusiasts. However, opponents, including Caesars Entertainment, have raised concerns about the potential for increased problem gambling, crime, and other social issues that could arise from legalized sports betting.
Caesars Entertainment has been a vocal opponent of legalized sports betting in Missouri, arguing that it would harm their existing casino business and lead to an increase in gambling addiction. The company has also expressed concerns about the potential for corruption and match-fixing in sports if betting is allowed to become more widespread.
In response to the threat posed by Amendment 3, Caesars Entertainment has pledged to spend millions of dollars on a campaign to educate voters about the potential risks of legalized sports betting and to encourage them to vote against the initiative. The company has already begun running advertisements and lobbying efforts to sway public opinion on the issue.
While the outcome of the ballot initiative remains uncertain, Caesars Entertainment’s significant financial contribution underscores the stakes involved in the debate over legalized sports betting in Missouri. As the November election approaches, both supporters and opponents of Amendment 3 will continue to make their case to voters, with millions of dollars on the line.
