Missouri voters narrowly legalize sports betting

Missouri has voted to legalize sports betting beginning in January. The result on sports wagering “wasn’t clear until the final votes were reported” after 2:30am ET today, with the statewide margin of victory just over 14,000 votes out of 2.9 million cast. Missouri’s franchises from MLB, the NFL, the NHL, MLS and the NWSL provided the public face of the signature campaign. Under the provisions of the amendment, each of six major professional sports teams “could create a retail sports betting location within a district near its stadium.” The teams “could also provide fans with a branded online betting platform.” Each of the state’s six casino companies “could also open a retail sportsbook at their casinos as well as offer an online platform.” There would also be “two licenses for online betting companies without a link to a Missouri casino or sports team” (MISSOURI INDEPENDENT, 11/6).