A recent lawsuit could alter the fate of legal sports betting in Missouri.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that a lawsuit filed by Missouri citizens Blake Lawrence and Jacqueline Wood challenges Winning for Missouri Education’s approved appearance on the November ballot. Winning for Missouri Education aims to legalize sports betting in the Show-Me State, but the lawsuit alleges that the initiative didn’t collect enough valid signatures to appear on the upcoming ballot.
The lawsuit states that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft used an incorrect method to tabulate the signatures and that the question of legalizing sports betting shouldn’t appear on the ballot. Initiatives in Missouri need signatures from 8% of legal voters in 75% of the state's congressional districts, but the lawsuit alleges Winning for Missouri Education didn't actually hit that threshold.
It was announced earlier this month that the Secretary of State's office gave official approval for Winning for Missouri Education's initiative to appear on the ballot this fall.
St. Louis Cardinals President Bill Dewitt III disagrees with the lawsuit's allegations, according to the P-D’s reporting. The Cardinals are one of the state's professional sports franchises backing Winning for Missouri Education.
Will Anything Change?
It’s unclear if the lawsuit has any merit. If it does, it could delay the introduction of legal sports betting in Missouri. If the ballot measure won't fly, it's likely lawmakers will tackle the topic in 2025.
If the question of legalizing sports wagering stays on the ballot and is approved by voters, it’ll allow for legal sports betting apps to come to Missouri. DraftKings and FanDuel are among the betting platforms hoping to join Missouri’s sports betting market, at least according to their recent spending.
Polls have differed in their assessments of whether the general Missouri population is for or against the idea of legal sports betting.
Should sports betting be approved in Missouri, gross gaming revenue will be taxed at 10%. Tax revenue from legal sports wagering would benefit the state’s educational initiatives.
