In a significant move to sway Missouri voters towards legalizing sports betting, the campaign has received a substantial financial boost. DraftKings‘ parent company, DK Crown Holdings, has contributed $3.5 million to the political action committee (PAC) advocating for the ballot initiative, according to recent filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission. This latest contribution has propelled the PAC, named Winning for Missouri Education, past the $10 million mark in total fundraising efforts.
This influx of cash from one of the nation’s leading sports wagering companies came shortly after the Missouri Secretary of State confirmed that the campaign had gathered sufficient signatures to secure a spot on the upcoming November ballot. The initiative, if passed, would align Missouri with 38 other states that have already legalized sports betting, enhancing revenue streams for education and gambling addiction programs, according to the St. Louis Dispatch.
A Statewide Campaign to Educate and Inform
Jack Cardetti, a spokesperson for the campaign, emphasized the strategic use of the funds: “Now that we are officially on the ballot we’ll be over the next two and a half months talking to Missourians across the state about why it makes sense to set up a legal sports betting framework that helps public education,” he said. The campaign aims to reach voters across Missouri, explaining the benefits and framework of the proposed sports betting legalization.
The initiative has garnered widespread support, as evidenced by polling data from Emerson College and a collaborative poll by St. Louis University and YouGov, which show over 60% approval among Missouri residents. This support spans across political affiliations and both rural and urban areas, indicating a strong statewide endorsement for the measure.
Endorsement from Missouri’s Professional Sports Teams
Missouri’s professional sports landscape is also firmly behind the initiative, with endorsements from the state’s six major teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis City SC, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Current. Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III publicly supported the campaign, stating: “On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot. A vote for Amendment 2 in November is the right thing to do for both Missouri public schools and our favorite sports teams.”
The proposed measure outlines a sports betting tax rate of 10%, allowing both Missouri’s professional sports teams and the state’s 13 casinos to operate retail and online sports betting platforms. The Missouri Gaming Commission would oversee the regulatory aspects of sports betting. Additionally, the designated home-dock city or county would receive 10% of the gaming tax revenue to fund local services.