Missouri legalizes sports betting with passage of Amendment 2

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The future of sports betting in Missouri was decided Tuesday as voters weighed in on Missouri Amendment 2.

The amendment, which aimed to legalize sports betting in the Show-Me State passed in Tuesday’s 2024 General Election by just 0.3%.

Missouri becomes the 39th state to legalize sports betting, joining Kansas — which legalized sports betting in 2022.

The Show-Me State (joins/remains apart from) seven of the eight states that border Missouri which have legalized sports betting in some capacity.

The official ballot language:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators;
• restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21;
• allow license fees prescribed by the Commission and a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for education after expenses incurred by the Commission and required funding of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund; and
• allow for the general assembly to enact laws consistent with this amendment?

State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million, and initial license fee revenue of $11.75 million. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.

Click here to view the full election results

The Kansas City Chiefs, the Royals, the Kansas City Current, the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Cardinals all endorsed Amendment 2.