To persuade Missouri voters to support the legalization of sports betting, the campaign has received substantial financial backing. According to documents recently submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission, DK Crown Holdings, the parent company of DraftKings, has donated $3.5 million to the political action committee (PAC) supporting the voting initiative. This latest donation has pushed the total fundraising amount of the PAC named Winning for Missouri Education over $10 million.
Shortly after the Missouri Secretary of State confirmed that the campaign had gathered enough signatures to secure a spot in the upcoming November election, a leading U.S. sports betting company injected this funding. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, if the initiative passes, Missouri will join 38 other states that have legalized sports betting, thereby increasing revenue sources for education and gambling addiction programs.
Statewide Education and Advocacy Campaign
The campaign spokesperson, Jack Cardetti, emphasized the strategic use of these funds: "Now that we have officially entered the voting process, we will be talking to Missourians across the state over the next two and a half months, explaining the significance of establishing a legal sports betting framework that benefits public education," he said. The campaign aims to reach voters throughout Missouri, explaining the benefits and framework of the proposed legalization of sports betting.
The initiative has received widespread support, with polling data from Emerson College and a joint survey by Saint Louis University and YouGov showing that over 60% of Missouri residents support it. This support spans political parties and covers both rural and urban areas, indicating that the measure has strong statewide backing.
Endorsement from Missouri's Professional Sports Teams
Missouri's professional sports community also firmly supports the initiative, with the state's six major teams endorsing it: the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis City SC, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Current. Bill DeWitt III, president of the Cardinals, publicly supported the campaign, saying, "On behalf of all six professional sports teams in Missouri, I thank everyone who signed the petition to get this proposal on the ballot. Voting for the Second Amendment in November is the right choice for Missouri's public schools and our favorite sports teams."
The proposed measure stipulates a 10% sports betting tax rate, allowing Missouri's professional sports teams and the state's 13 casinos to operate retail and online sports betting platforms. The Missouri Gaming Commission will oversee the regulatory aspects of sports betting. Additionally, designated cities or counties will receive 10% of the gambling tax revenue to fund local services.
