Missouri sports betting initiative now odds-on favorite to be on November ballot
In a sea of blue outside Kauffman Stadium Thursday, there were people collecting signatures to legalize sports betting in Missouri. A petition drive led by professional sports franchises in Missouri is gaining momentum as the state's legislative session enters its fourth month without significant progress on sports betting. The initiative, led by a coalition led by Winning for Missouri Education, aims to put the issue on the November ballot. The coalition needs to collect 180,000 valid signatures by May 5 and is aiming to collect 300,000 by the end of the month. While the ten percent tax would go to education, Nathan Rice argues that there should be some regulation to keep people safe and that sports betting should be regulated like an addiction. Some lawmakers have been hesitant to legalize it, as concerns have been raised about its potential impact on gambling.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Dave D'Marko in
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Missouri’s Legislative session prepares to enter its fourth month without significant progress on sports betting, legislators may go another year without voting on a bill in both the House and Senate. But an initiative to put the issue on the November ballot seems to be picking up steam.
Opening Day wasn’t a great day for people who placed wagers on the Kansas City Royals as they fell to the Twins 4-1. Still some people say they’d like to have the opportunity.
In a sea of blue outside Kauffman Stadium Thursday, there were people collecting signatures to legalize sports betting in Missouri.
After years of filibusters and failed attempts in the state legislature the state’s six professional franchises spearheaded an effort to get sports betting on the ballot through a petition drive. It’s being led by a coalition called Winning for Missouri Education.
“Winning for Missouri Education came together because we think it’s time for Missourians to act directly on this question,” campaign consultant Erin Schrimpf said.
Schrimpf pointed to 431,000 Missourians who tried to place bets in Missouri the weekend of the Super Bowl, a 51% increase from the year before. Of course many people in the Metro find ways around it with a short drive across the state line.
“My son will go off the highway, place a bet and come back. They are getting the revenue and all our people are going over there, so I think we need to have sports betting,” Catheen Ferro said.
“Why give the sports betting money over to Kansas? I’d rather just be able to do it from my home,” Missouri sports bettor Annalise Hombs said.
While the ten percent tax would go to education, Nathan Rice says gamblers also have to be educated on sports betting’s downside.
“I’m sure eventually it will pass in Missouri and it should pass in Missouri because people should have that choice. But I feel like there should be some regulation on it to keep people safe because it is an addiction just like anything else,” Rice said.
Those concerns could be part of why some lawmakers have been hesitant to legalize it, though most often the debate on sports betting has been complicated by whether video lottery terminals should also be included.
Winning for Missouri Education needs to turn in 180,000 valid signatures by May 5. They are hoping to collect 300,000 since some signatures inevitably get thrown out.
Schrimpf said the coalition is hoping to announce as soon as this weekend they’ve passed the 250,000 signature mark.