- Two of the largest newspapers in Missouri have endorsed Amendment 2 to legalize sports betting
- The Kansas City Star and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have both officially endorsed legalized sports betting
- While both endorse the amendment, both do so with a level of hesitation
Legalized Missouri sports betting has gained two big journalistic allies, as voters will flock to the polls on Nov. 5 to decide the fate of potential constitutional amendment to legalize the new form of gaming.
The Winning for Missouri Education campaign reported that two of the state’s largest newspapers, The Kansas City Star and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, have both officially endorsed a “yes vote” on Amendment 2 at the polls.
If approved, online sports betting and retail sports betting will be legal in the Show Me State.
Both Papers Endorse Sports Betting With Hesitations
While both newspapers did officially endorse legalized sports betting, both did so with a level of hesitation. If the amendment is approved by state voters, each professional Missouri sports team and land-based casino would be eligible for one retail sports betting license and one online sports betting license each. Each individual team and casino would also be able to partner with up to one online sports betting operator.
In total, the state could see 19 retail sports betting licenses and 21 online sports betting licenses under this framework.
According to the editorial board of The Kansas City Star, the concerns of sports betting “are real” but will not disappear if voters reject the constitutional amendment. Missourians can easily travel to nearby states to place a legal bet on a sporting event, according to the board, and if “sports betting is going to happen, and it is, we think it’s better to keep the money in the state.”
Additionally, the editorial board noted the opposition campaign being funded in part by Caesars Entertainment is “beyond parody” as they want to keep outside gaming competition away from Missouri.
“Are the casinos worried about excessive gambling? Do they think betting is wrong? Of course not. They simply don’t want the competition. That’s hypocrisy at the highest level. We think Missourians are sensible enough to make up their own minds about gambling in whatever form they wish,” the board wrote.
The revenue estimates from sports betting are murky, the board suggests, and damages from gambling are very real.
“Those problems will give some voters pause, as they did for us. But Missourians can and will bet on sports, either in the state or somewhere else. We think the opportunity should be available here, and we recommend yes on Constitutional Amendment 2.”
Gambling is here to stay, the editorial board of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also wrote, and residents will be doing so no matter whether the state legalizes it or not.
The board gave their official endorsement to the amendment, doing so with “little enthusiasm but plenty of realism.”
“In a real way, continuing to outlaw sports betting here is nothing other than a declaration that Missouri refuses to regulate and tax an activity that will continue happening regardless of what state law says. That’s dumb. That said, no one should assume legalized sports betting would be a windfall here. The stingy terms of Amendment 2 — a 10% state tax on gambling revenues to be earmarked for education, with a provision that allows sportsbook companies to deduct certain promotional expenses before reporting revenues — aren’t unusual among state gaming laws, but they aren’t great for taxpayers.”
Campaigns Well Funded
As endorsements continue to come in, both sides of the sports betting coin have also received millions in donations for their campaigns.
FanDuel and DraftKing have been the largest donors for Winning for Missouri Education. In total, the two sports betting giants have donated more than $31.5 million to the campaign. Most recently, FanDuel donated $5 million to the campaign.
However, Caesars Entertainment is keeping pace and has been steadily providing a stream of money to the Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment campaign. Through its land-based Tropicana Casino, Caesars donated an additional $3.3 million to the anti-sports betting group this week.
To date, Caesars has provided $14,161,456 to the campaign through the following donations:
- Caesars Enterprise Services: $161,456.85
- Tropicana St. Louis: $4,600,000
- Harrah’s North Kansas: $4,700,000
- Isle of Capri Boonville: $4,700,000
Under the proposed ballot initiative, each of the state’s land-based casinos would receive one online sports betting license apiece, while two untethered online sports betting licenses would also be available for sports betting companies to operate in Missouri. Caesars likely has a problem with this aspect of the proposed initiative, as neither FanDuel or DraftKings has a land-based casino in the state, but would likely be in line for the two untethered online sports betting licenses.
The push for legalized sports betting in Missouri received a significant boost recently with the addition of two high-profile endorsements to the campaign. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs have both thrown their support behind the effort to bring legal sports betting to the state.
The Cardinals, one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, announced their endorsement of the campaign in a statement released by team president Bill DeWitt III. DeWitt cited the potential economic benefits of legalized sports betting, noting that it could generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state and create new opportunities for fans to engage with the team.
The Chiefs, fresh off a Super Bowl victory and boasting one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL, also announced their support for the campaign. Team owner Clark Hunt expressed his belief that legal sports betting would enhance the fan experience and provide a new source of revenue for the state.
These endorsements come at a crucial time for the campaign, as lawmakers in Missouri are currently considering legislation that would legalize sports betting in the state. Proponents of the bill argue that legalizing sports betting would bring much-needed revenue to the state, create jobs, and regulate an industry that is currently operating in the shadows.
Opponents of the bill, however, have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of legalized sports betting, including addiction and increased problem gambling. They argue that the social costs of legal sports betting could outweigh any potential economic benefits.
Despite these concerns, the endorsements from the Cardinals and Chiefs are likely to give a significant boost to the campaign for legalized sports betting in Missouri. With two of the state’s most beloved sports franchises backing the effort, supporters are hopeful that lawmakers will see the potential benefits of legalizing sports betting and act accordingly.
As the debate over legalized sports betting in Missouri continues, it is clear that the endorsements from the Cardinals and Chiefs have added a new level of credibility and momentum to the campaign. Whether or not these endorsements will ultimately sway lawmakers remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the push for legal sports betting in Missouri is gaining steam.
