JEFFERSON CITY — The fight over bringing sports betting to Missouri is heating up, with supporters and opponents launching television ad campaigns this week amid a flurry of heavy spending.
On Friday, Betfair Interactive gave $1.5 million to the political action committee that is backing a proposed constitutional amendment that would make Missouri the 39th state with a sports betting program.
Meanwhile, casino companies, unhappy with the details of the proposal, have pumped $4 million into an opposition campaign. They are Tropicana St. Louis (Horseshoe St. Louis), Harrah’s North Kansas City, and Isle of Capri Boonville.
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The inflow of cash came as the PAC, Winning for Missouri Education, launched its first ad in support of the initiative.
In the ad, former teacher Susan Wolk of Eureka said legalizing sports betting will generate money for schools.
“As a mom and former first grade teacher, I care deeply about education. That’s why I am voting for Amendment 2,†Wolk says.
On Friday, the recently formed group that opposes the amendment, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, said in its first ad of the election cycle that the claims of an infusion of money for schools are misleading.
In the ad by opponents, a narrator cites a fiscal analysis approved by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft that said tax revenue could be as little as zero.
“The proponents of Amendment 2 are making empty promises about education in order to sway voters, and Missourians deserve to know the truth about the measure,†said Brooke Foster, a spokesperson for the anti-sports betting group.
The proposed amendment sets the state’s share of sports gambling revenue at 10%. But the language allows sports betting companies to deduct promotional subsidies from taxable revenue, leading to higher profits for the gambling companies and lower state returns.
In the fiscal analysis, the projected revenue is listed at zero to an estimated $28.9 million per year.
The tax rate and the provision allowing deductions is similar to neighboring Kansas’ program, which generated $7 million in state revenue in its first full year of operation in 2023.
Polls have not offered a definitive guide on how the vote might go on Nov. 5.
A St. Louis University/YouGov poll of 900 voters in August found that 50% of respondents supported the amendment, while 30% opposed it.
An Emerson College/Nexstar Media poll in June showed 38% in support and 35% opposed with 26% unsure.
The pro-gambling campaign is relying largely on FanDuel and DraftKings for its funding. Friday’s contribution by Betfair, which is a part of FanDuel, brings the total amount raised to more than $8 million.
The effort has the support of the state’s professional sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Editor’s note: The three casino companies that contributed to the campaign against Amendment 2 are all owned by Caesars Entertainment. This story was updated to reflect that information.