A Missouri sports betting ballot initiative survived a last-ditch legal challenge this week. After a Thursday hearing, Judge Daniel Green dismissed a motion challenging the initiative.
It’s the latest bit of drama surrounding Missouri sports betting, which has been a hot topic at legislative sessions for the last few years. However, the ballot initiative will now officially face voters on Election Day.
More on the Missouri sports betting hearing
The motion challenged the signature-gathering efforts of Winning for Missouri Education, which filed its petition earlier this year. The group gathered approximately 340,000 signatures, nearly double the required amount.
Those signatures were ratified in August by Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft. However, a challenge brought parties to court this week. If successful, the measure may have been stricken from the ballot, meaning an even longer wait for the launch of legal sports betting in the Show-Me State.
Judge Green, however, ruled in favor of Ashcroft (and, by extension, Winning for Missouri Education). He ruled the method of gathering signatures was valid, in conjunction with an argument from the defense stating that, if this measure was struck down, others would be invalid as well.
Two months until Election Day
The Missouri ballot is set to be finalized next week, with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th. It’s at that point Missourians will vote on whether to bring some of the country’s best sportsbooks to the state.
The ballot initiative effort came after years of legislative gridlock led by Sen. Denny Hoskins. Hoskins insisted Missouri sports betting legislation include language on VLT’s. He and some of his colleagues blocked numerous bills over the past few years based on this premise.
If the bill is passed, it’s logical to expect Missouri sports betting to go live in mid-2025. Most states have taken between six and 12 months to launch. Assuming approval in November, this would mean Missouri sports betting apps would be available prior to the start of the 2025 NFL and college football seasons.
