Judge rules for sports betting initiative to stay on Missouri ballots

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An initiative that could legalize sports betting in Missouri remains on track to appear on the November ballot.

On Friday afternoon, a Cole County judge rejected a lawsuit that challenged the ballot initiative. The lawsuit raised questions about whether proponents of sports wagering had collected enough signature from registered voter to qualify for ballots.

Winning for Missouri Education, an organization involved with the process to get sports betting on ballots, shared this statement with FOX 2:

“Today’s ruling, while expected, is nevertheless a big victory for Missourians, who overwhelmingly want to join the 38 other states that allow sports betting, so that we can provide tens of millions in permanent, dedicated funding each year to our public schools. For too many years, Missourians have watched as fans cross state lines to place sport bets, which deprives our Missouri public schools of much needed funding. A vote for Amendment 2 in November will bring those dollars back to Missouri classrooms.”

Under the proposed initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary, and higher education.

A new poll on behalf of Saint Louis University and YouGov PLC suggests around 50% of respondents would support a sports betting measure, while 30% would oppose it and 20% would be unsure.

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