Missouri Took Long Route to Legalization
Sports betting bills had failed to pass the Missouri state legislature for years. Despite strong support, a series of filibusters prevented votes on those bills. This deadlock led to outside parties taking matters into their own hands.
A group of the state’s pro sports teams formed a coalition to organize a ballot initiative. They secured enough signatures to get sports betting on the November 2024 ballot, which voters approved by a narrow margin.
Missouri’s road to legalization serves as a road map for the handful of states that have failed to pass their sports betting bills.
How Many Sportsbooks Will Apply?
While 21 mobile sports betting licenses will be awarded, it seems unlikely the state will fill them all. One reason for that is DraftKings and FanDuel's domination of the market, which has led to many operators exiting the US sports betting market. That means fewer sportsbooks are around, and the smaller ones are less incentivized to push for further expansion.
Expect to see the two industry leaders apply for licenses, likely followed by BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics. Bet365 has also been expanding and could add Missouri to its growing list of markets.
One factor that will tempt other sportsbooks is the state’s 10% tax rate, which is one of the lowest in the US. That means operators will keep more revenue, giving them plenty of reason to join the new market.
Will Missouri Join the Fight Against Prediction Markets?
With legal sports betting set to launch before the end of the year, state lawmakers must decide what to do with the rise of sports prediction markets.
Several states are launching legal battles to push these controversial trading platforms out to protect their sports betting industry. While prediction markets are considered trading instead of gambling, they offer a way for people to wager on sports, cutting into the tax revenue states generate from the industry.
The question now is whether Missouri will join the fight other states have started or simply watch from the sidelines as court rulings are handed down.