Over 300K People Sign Sports Betting Petition in Missouri
What seems to be a challenge to test the popularity of sports betting amongst residents of Missouri has blown into widespread public support for its legalization in the state.
Winning for Missouri has exceeded the over 180,000 signatures needed for its petition to be on November's ballot. (Source: Samuel Peter, Pexels).
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Winning for Missouri Education has collected over 300,000 signatures in support of legalizing sports betting in the state through a ballot initiative.
Winning for Missouri Education is a brainchild of the six professional sports teams in Missouri, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Current, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, and St. Louis SC. The coalition has been actively advocating for sports betting in the Show-Me State since November 2023.
They have filed multiple motions with the Missouri Secretary of State to secure a ballot initiative this year. The motions, which aim to amend Missouri’s constitution to allow voters to determine if regulated sports betting should be allowed in the state, were finally approved by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
However, Ashcroft mandated that Winning for Missouri Education must gather a minimum of 180,000 signatures by May 5 to include the issue on November’s ballot. The coalition effortlessly surpassed this requirement, having already obtained over 100,000 signatures by February.
A poll conducted by Emerson College and Saint Louis University in February revealed that over 60% of Missourians support the authorization of sports betting in the state.
More Regulation News
House Bill 2835 to Legalize Sports Wagering and Slots
While the coalition makes moves to have an online and retail sports betting market in Missouri, the proposal is also being pushed in the state’s legislature.
In February Rep. Crystal Quade sponsored a bill, House Bill 2835, that aims to legalize both online and retail sports betting. It also seeks to authorize interactive digital games played on mechanical amusement devices in the state.
The bill designated the Missouri Gaming Commission as the state’s sports betting market regulator and fixed a 10% tax rate on adjusted gross receipts.
If passed, HB 2835 is expected to generate $500 million in tax revenue, which would be deposited in the state’s treasury to support public education.
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