JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — With 100% of Missouri's precincts reporting, it appears sports betting was narrowly legalized in Missouri.
Amendment 2 allows the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate “licensed sports betting, including online betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators,” according to the amendment’s text. It restricts sports betting to those physically located in the state who are 21 years or older.
Approximately 2,932,246 Missourians cast a ballot on Amendment 2, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Voter totals as of Nov. 8 said 1,468,306 people voted "yes" and 1,463,940 voted "no".
Just over 4,000 votes separated the two sides, which firmly sits within Missouri law's .50% vote margin for a recount. However, because of the players involved in the amendment's opposition, a recount is actually unlikely to ever be requested.
“In order to have a recount, you would need someone to push for a recount,” according to Senior Editor Ryan Butler of sports analytics website Covers.
“It's interesting the opposition group that funded the (Amendment 2's) "no" campaign is Caesars, which owns three casinos in Missouri. They pulled out of their financial investments towards the end of the race, and kind of slowed down. They would be the party most likely to stop this. Then again they're also the ones who will get a sportsbook."
The amendment also allows the gaming commission to put in place licensing fees and a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to support Missouri’s schools after covering commission expenses and funding the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund.
If a recount is requested, the party that makes the request is responsible for paying for the recount.
If the vote on Amendment 2 is certified, Missouri would become the 39th state in the nation to legalize sports betting.
The amendment text says that all regulated sports wagering for adults will begin in the state no later than Dec.1, 2025. Butler estimates it will take 6 to 9 months for sports betting to be launched across the Show Me State. No sports betting, retail or mobile, will be allowed before the date set by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
