ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

ANTO MISSOURI
OPENSPORTS
LETTERFANS
Admittedly, we are a little biased on the topic, but we believe it is time for Missouri
residents to be able to place safe and legal bets on sporting events. If our fans
choose to support Amendment 2, they’ll have that option. And, as important,
Missouri will gain much-needed funding for education.
Amendment 2 is expected to bring in an additional $100 million in tax revenue over
the next five years through a permanent, specifically dedicated education fund that
will support Missouri public schools. We know Missourians already participate in sports
betting, but to do so they drive across a border or use illegal, offshore betting sites.
The result is tax money going to Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, or Kentucky instead
of Missouri. Together, as St. Louis’ professional sports teams, we strongly believe that
tax revenue earned from sports betting by Missourians should go to classrooms in
Missouri, not ones in neighboring states.
And, while we want our fans in Missouri to have the option to place a legal wager, we
also want them to do it responsibly. That’s why Amendment 2 requires a MINIMUM
of $5 million per year in funding for problem gaming in Missouri and incorporates
comments and feedback received from the National Council on Problem Gaming.
ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ betting continues to rise in popularity across the U.S., with nearly 40% of all
Americans estimated to have placed a sports bet in 2023. Certainly, many of those
wagers were made by Missouri residents who went through extraordinary measures
that ultimately benefited our neighbors. We simply want to make sure our sports
fans in Missouri have access to safe and entertaining sports betting options if they
choose to participate, just as rival fans do in Chicago, Nashville, Indianapolis, and many
other neighboring cities. In full transparency, this will also give local teams additional
sponsorship opportunities through sportsbook partnerships, similar to many other
professional teams like the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Blackhawks where sports
betting is legal in their state. That means more tax revenue and more opportunities
for the local communities that we all call home.
Whether or not you participate in sports betting, you likely know someone in St. Louis
who does. Let’s bring that tax revenue back to our state and fund our classrooms.
Please vote YES on Amendment 2 on November 5.

Sincerely,

Bill DeWitt III
President
St. Louis Cardinals

Tom Stillman
Chairman and Governor
St. Louis Blues

Carolyn Kindle
CEO and Owner
St. Louis CITY SC