Missouri’s citizens voted to legalize sports betting Tuesday via an Election Day ballot initiative that narrowly received more yes votes than no votes.
Missouri’s Amendment 2 passed by a vote of 50.128% to 49.872% and will become law on December 5, 2024. The Amendment legalizes online and in-person sportsbooks in the Show Me State and paves the way for Missouri’s current sports teams and casinos to operate sportsbooks in addition to operators not currently affiliated with Missouri.
The results of the ballot initiative was still unclear when most Missourians went to bed Tuesday night, but by Wednesday morning their Secretary of State’s website displayed the unofficial results with all 3,572 precincts reporting and 2,932,246 votes cast. In sport terms, the vote was a nail-biting overtime thriller with 1,469,866 yes votes and 1,462,380 no votes.
What does this mean for sports betting in Missouri
Sports bettors in Missouri will now be able to legally wager on sports while inside state lines. Previously, sports fans in the state were known to travel to neighboring states who had already legalized sports wagering. Soon sports bettors in Missouri will be able to place wagers from home, and the state will be able to collect tax revenue from in-state sportsbooks.
Missouri (barely) passes Amendment 2, which legalizes sports betting in the state.
Missouri becomes U.S. state No. 39 with widespread, legalized sports betting
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) November 6, 2024
The state’s professional sports teams and 13 casinos will be able to offer in-person and online sports wagering apps while two additional licenses may be granted to outside companies like FanDuel.
When can we expect sports betting in Missouri
While the exact launch date for legal sports betting in Missouri isn’t known, there has been speculation based on the timelines in other states, that the middle of 2025 is a fair target. Regulators still need to work out the details on licensing and regulation which is expected to take several months. Our Missouri Betting Page will be updated with the latest information about the state’s timeline, which sportsbooks will be available, and how to get started placing your first wager.
What is Missouri Amendment 2
Missouri Amendment 2 is a ballot initiative to legalize sports betting in Missouri that passed on Election Day (November 5, 2024) and will become law on December 5, 2024. Voters approved Amendment 2 by a narrow margin (50.128% to 49.872%) after more than 300,000 signatures put the amendment on the ballot.
Amendment 2 legalizes both retail and online sports betting in Missouri and allows the state’s 13 casinos and sports teams (i.e. the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals) to offer sports betting while two additional licenses are available to companies outside the state. The initiative also authorizes the state to collect 10% of net revenue from operators that would go toward the state’s Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund. Amendment 2 prohibits in-state college player props.