Missouri to get sports betting measure on the ballot

The Show Me State has come a step closer to legalizing sports betting with the Cole Country Circuit Court judge Daniel R. Green siding with a lobby of pro-gambling advocates who have insisted that the matter should be left to voters to decide.

Missouri sports gambling will be on the November ballot

Judge Green said that there was no legal precedent in the state’s history for him to strike down the measure from the upcoming ballot on the basis of certification. He added, commenting on the plaintiffs who sought to remove the measure:

"Applying these long-standing principles, Plaintiffs have not offered sufficient justification or evidence to call the Secretary’s certification of sufficient of the Sports Wagering Petition into question."

This means that Missouri will most likely see sports betting voted on and very likely passed favorably as the Show Me State is one of few strongholds that have been able to resist the onslaught of sports betting legalization, mostly because of the will of lawmakers and not specifically the explicit wishes of residents.

This may now change, as the ballot measure has garnered more than 8% of voters backing to be successfully included in the upcoming elections. This last legal hurdle cleared, Missouri is now gearing up to pass the laws needed to move forward.

There have already been legal attempts to make this happen through ordinary legislative sessions. In January, Missouri introduced Senate Bill 852 and SenateBill 824, two draft laws hoping to lay the foundations of the future sports gambling market.

Legalizing sports gambling in Missouri almost certain to happen

On the face of it, the Show Me State has little to worry about not passing the ballot measure successfully. According to a survey published in August, more than half of Missouri voters support the legalization of sports gambling, and the activity has generally been accepted as a legitimate pastime across the nation.

The activity also enjoys the support of local professional sports teams who have been keen to capitalize on the legitimate business of sports wagering for a while now. In a statement in January, the Chiefs and the Royals, among others, urged lawmakers to seize the moment and push forward with the legalization of sports gambling already.

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