Missouri Prepares to Launch Sports Betting by Summer 2025
Missouri is gearing up to introduce legal sports betting by the summer of 2025, well ahead of the deadline set by the newly approved Amendment 2. The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is finalizing regulations and licensing procedures to ensure a smooth rollout of both in-person and online betting platforms.
A Long Road to Legalization
Sports betting became legal in Missouri after voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 during a referendum on November 5, 2024. The victory was razor-thin, with 50.05% of voters in favor and a margin of just 2,934 votes. This slim lead allowed for a recount under Missouri law, but neither side opted to pursue it.
The referendum followed an intense and record-breaking campaign. The pro-Amendment 2 group, Winning for Missouri Education, spent $41 million—the most ever for a Missouri ballot initiative—backed by major online sports betting operators FanDuel and DraftKings. Opponents, led by Caesars Entertainment, invested $14 million in their campaign but scaled back efforts three weeks before the vote.
Supporters argued that legalizing sports betting would generate tax revenue for education and curb losses to neighboring states where betting is already legal. Critics, however, raised concerns about potential spikes in gambling addiction and credit card debt among residents.
The Path to Implementation
Although sports betting officially became legal in early December 2024, residents will need to wait a few more months before placing bets. The Missouri Gaming Commission is working on several key initiatives:
- Drafting regulations to govern sports betting operations.
- Developing a licensing process for both physical and online betting providers.
- Studying best practices from other states with established sports betting markets.
According to Jan Zimmerman, chair of the Missouri Gaming Commission, the aim is to launch sports betting before the start of the 2025 football season, a peak period for wagering.
Missouri’s New Market Potential
The approval of Amendment 2 is seen as a significant opportunity for Missouri to capture a share of the growing U.S. sports betting market. Proponents emphasize that tax revenues from sports betting will provide much-needed funding for public education.
Missouri joins a growing list of states that have legalized sports betting in recent years, driven by its profitability and popularity. However, the contentious vote and concerns about addiction highlight the challenges regulators will face as they establish this new market.
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