Caesars Donates $4M to Block Missouri Sports Betting
Caesars Entertainment has contributed $4 million to a campaign aimed at defeating the Missouri sports betting ballot initiative backed by professional sports franchises.
The Horseshoe Casino, formerly Tropicana St. Louis owned by Caesars in Missouri.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:According to the Missouri Ethics Commission website, Caesars Entertainment funded the 'Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment' campaign on September 13, three days after the committee was formed on September 10. The donations, made through three separate contributions, were attributed to its casino subsidiaries.
The Horseshoe Casino (formerly Tropicana St. Louis) and Isle of Capri Casino Booneville each contributed $1.3 million, while Harrah's North Kansas City donated $1.4 million.
The sports betting initative is being championed by Winning for Missouri Education, a coalition consisting of the St. Louis Cardinals and other pro sports teams in Missouri. Listed as Amendment 2, the measure will be on the November ballot, where voters will decide its fate. If approved, the initiative would legalize online wagering with platforms linked to existing casinos and pro sports franchises across the states.
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The proposal is also supported by digital wagering companies under the umbrella of the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), including DraftKings and FanDuel.
According to MEC records, DraftKings and FanDuel donated $9.525 million to the committee, including $2.5 million and $1 million each in January and March. On August 15, DraftKings donated $3.525 million, and FanDuel donated $1.5 million on September 13.
Last week, the SBA unveiled its first ad highlighting the benefits of Amendment 2 and the regulated sports betting market it would establish.
Although the initiative will grant Missouri's physical casinos one skin or platform to run online sports betting in the state, none of the casino operators have voiced strong support for it. However, Caesars' latest donation clearly indicates its stance on the issue.
Other entities against the sports betting ballot initiative include religious groups and problem gambling advocates.
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