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What comes next following sports betting amendment’s passage in Missouri?

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2 months ago

November 6, 2024

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What comes next following sports betting amendment’s passage in Missouri?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Even though Missouri Amendment 2 passed on Tuesday night, a lot has to happen before you can start making wagers in the Show-Me State.

Now eventually, regulars at Lew’s Grill and Bar in Kansas City, Missouri, will no longer have to drive across State Line Road to place bets on their favorite teams. They’re excited, but it’s going to take some time before that happens.

Co-owner Andy Lewellen is expecting larger gameday crowds thanks to Amendment 2.

“Our customer base is just able to travel a couple miles over (to Kansas) to gamble and I think it’s hurt us a little bit,” Lewellen recalled.

Now, many wonder how long until they don’t have to make the drive to Kansas to bet on teams?

“It will probably take a few months,” Dr. Matt Harris, a professor at Park University explained. “There’s a provision in the amendment that puts the deadline for sports betting to be operational by Dec. 1, 2025. It’s probably not going to take that long.”

First, sports betting apps and casinos must work out licensing and apply through the Missouri Gaming Commission.

“Both the ones at the casino companies will contract with the sports betting apps,” Dr. Harris said. “There’s also a couple floating licenses where the betting companies will come in independent of casinos to request those licenses. That will take some time.”

One thing that could hold up the application process is if more than two companies want to operate independently in the state outside casinos and team stadiums. That is not allowed per Amendment 2 guidelines.

“There’s a piece where there’s two licenses that can be issued independent of the casinos that exist in Missouri,” Dr. Harris continued. “So, on that front, if you have more than two companies applying for those licenses there’s a number of criteria that the state gaming commission will be looking at.”

Because sports betting is nothing new in America, Dr. Harris expects Missouri to follow how other states set it up to save some time.

“When you talk about the infrastructure for betting apps, those are already in place,” Dr. Harris added, “it’s just a matter of getting the licenses agreed to, getting the contracts signed and those sort of things.”

On Wednesday, the Missouri Gaming Commission shared a statement with KCTV following the amendment’s passage.

The incredible staff at the Missouri Gaming Commission had been working hard on sports betting long before the vote yesterday. One advantage we have is the number of states that already had sports betting and have had for a number of years. We’ve taken advantage of this time leading up to the election to research what’s working in other places and what’s not. Our staff had been in contact with many of their counterparts in other states.

Obviously, there is a significant number of rules and regulations that will need to be put in place, affecting everything from internal operations at sports betting locations to licensing of those entities and their employees. The staff will forward the proposed rules to the Commission for approval at an upcoming monthly meeting.

I feel confident that the locations seeking licensure will be making the necessary changes to their operations, concurrent with our work on the creation of new rules. Once rules governing licensure are in place, those seeking a license will need to apply which triggers the process of a background investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a determination of suitability, which also comes before the Commission for approval.

Supporters estimate as much as $24 million annually from this could go to support Missouri Public Schools. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri has 554 school districts and public charter schools statewide.

When you do the math, if the maximum amount was raised from taxes off sports betting, each school district would receive $43,321.29 a year. However, the amendment does allow some loopholes for companies to write off some earnings.