The Missouri House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to add a sports betting amendment to an unrelated bill in a last-ditch effort to pass legal sports betting in the Show-Me State despite the obstructionism of one state senator. The legislative session is set to close Friday.
The effort comes on the heels of St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III telling that the Cardinals, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, the St. Louis Blues, and other pro sports franchises in the state are considering working around the legislature entirely by petitioning for an initiative to be brought to the state’s voters. The 2023 deadline has already passed, so the earliest it could be presented to Missouri voters would be 2024.
Pro sports teams getting frustrated
If Hoskins continues to hold firm and insist that sports betting be linked to the fate of off-casino slot machines, often called video lottery terminals, he’ll be running afoul of some powerful entities in the state.
They include one of the most storied franchises in baseball’s National League and the reigning Super Bowl champs.
The frustration of the teams stems, in part, from what they view as a competitive disadvantage. For example, the Chiefs play in a division with the Denver Broncos, who have partnered with BetMGM.
Similarly, the Cardinals’ archrivals, the Chicago Cubs, have a deal with DraftKings. Missouri’s pro teams could currently partner with a sportsbook for, say, sponsorships or advertising, but unlike in states with legal wagering, the Missouri team deals wouldn’t be as lucrative because the partner can’t offer wagering.
