Missouri narrowly voted ‘Yes’ on Amendment 2 in the November 5, 2024 general election, which will now make sports wagering legal in the state. It is reportedly going to be available no later than December 1, 2025.
The margin for the amendment’s passing was incredibly thin after nearly three million votes were cast; it was successful by just 7,486 votes. Interestingly, Amendment 5 in Missouri did not pass, which would have built a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks.
In the passing of Amendment 2, the Missouri Independent reported that FanDuel and DraftKings poured a record $41 million in advertising and other expenses into the vote yes campaign.
With Missouri now heading towards legalized sports betting, it crosses another off the increasingly short list of states where it remains banned, including Alabama. The Yellowhammer State, along with Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah, are the areas where sports betting is still illegal.
RELATED: State Rep. Blackshear: ‘Naïve’ to think sports betting isn’t already taking place in Alabama
The Missouri Independent report revealed staggering estimates of tax revenue for the state in just the first five years alone, with gambling profits taxed at a 10% rate. Citing a study from Winning for Missouri Education, it’s estimated that over $21 billion will be wagered in those first five years.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Op”ning Kickoff” on WN”P-FM 105.5, available free online.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.