The "Missouri Against Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment" political committee was established on September 10. According to records from the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC), the campaign was funded by three separate donations made on September 13 by a casino giant under its casino names. Tropicana St. Louis (now Horseshoe Casino) and Isle of Capri Casino Booneville each donated $1.3 million, while Harrah's North Kansas City donated $1.4 million.
So far, Caesars Entertainment is the only casino company in the state that has taken a clear stance on Missouri sports betting. The proposal, listed as the second amendment in the November vote, will legalize statewide digital sports betting through platforms associated with existing casinos and professional sports venues. It originated from Missouri's professional sports teams, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals.
The second amendment has caused a divide between traditional casino companies and digital betting platforms. Digital platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel support the initiative, which is backed by the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) consisting of BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel. Despite the SBA not having a physical entity in the state, it launched its first advertisement last week.
According to MEC records, DraftKings and FanDuel together donated a total of $9.525 million to the "Fight for Missouri Education" committee established in January. Major donations included $2.5 million in January, $1 million in March, and recent contributions of $3.525 million by DraftKings in August and September, and $1.5 million by FanDuel.
