Does Chiefs’ future in Missouri depend on passage of sports betting initiative? – Missourinet

Three citizen-led proposals will appear on the Missouri ballot in November, including sports betting. In the past, Missouri’s six professional sports teams have heavily promoted the idea of legalizing sports gambling.

Sports betting has been legal in Kansas since 2022 and that state is trying to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the state line. Does Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan tie the outcome of the sports gambling proposal with the future of the Chiefs in Missouri?

“As it relates to the stadium decision, I don’t think that is a significant factor in the decision. I think it would be a nice amenity to add on to, if we get something done in Missouri, something we’d be able to add to whatever we were going to do here. But I don’t think that’s that’s not a big factor in making the decision one way or the other,” he said.

The Kansas sports gambling law sets aside revenue from sports wagering to be used as an incentive for teams to move to the state. Missouri’s sports betting initiative would include a 10% revenue tax that would benefit the state’s public schools.

Donovan is all in on the proposal.

“I spend more time in Jefferson City on that issue than I have in just about any other issue. We really believe that it’s a right thing. We think it’s good for the state. We think it’s good for fans of the sport and other sports,” said Donovan.

He asserts sports gambling has a solid track record.

“And we think it’s a proven entity,” said Donovan. “It’s something that’s worked on, you know, pretty significant level, in just about every state surrounding the state of Missouri.”

Donovan acknowledged that the work of St. Louis Cardinals’ President Bill DeWitt, who Donovan said has led a consortium of professional sports teams in Missouri in favor of legalizing sports betting.

By Matt Pike of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph