Recently, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel R. Green ruled that the decision to legalize mobile sports betting in Missouri will be placed on the November ballot.
This decision came after a seven-hour hearing, which took place the day before, and hours after lawyers presented their proposed judgments.
The judge’s decision represents a significant chance for Missouri voters after more than five years of failed attempts in the state legislature to legalize sports betting.
The vote will allow voters to decide on Amendment 2, which proposes the legalization of digital and physical sports betting in the state.
The Missouri Betting Initiative
The proposal will allow sports betting on digital and physical platforms, linked to existing casinos and professional sports venues. Specific electoral measure:
- The Missouri Gaming Commission will regulate sports betting, including online and mobile,
- Betting will be restricted to state residents over the age of 21,
- The state will use license fees and taxes on gambling revenue to fund compulsive gambling education and prevention,
- The General Assembly may create additional laws consistent with the amendment.
State government estimates indicate initial costs of $660,000 and ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million. The estimate projects initial license fee revenue at $11.75 million, and tax revenue could reach $28.9 million annually.
Other proposals and implications
In addition to Amendment 2, voters will also vote on Amendment 5, which would allow a new license for a gambling boat in the Lake of the Ozarks region. Missouri currently has 13 betting boats.
In contrast, Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled Amendment 3, which dealt with the legalization of abortion in the state, to be invalid. Therefore, proponents will appeal this decision, and the final decision will take place by Tuesday, when the ballots will be printed.
Legal challenges
The betting initiative faced legal challenges from political consultants who alleged irregularities in signatures supporting the measure.
However, Judge Green rejected these arguments, stating that the evidence presented was not sufficient to invalidate the required number of signatures.
Additionally, the judge highlighted the importance of allowing the initiative process to run its course and stressed that courts should treat lawsuits to remove petitions from the ballot with caution.
