Missouri Sports Betting Legalization Ballot Result Certified After Passing by Fewer Than 3,000 Votes

  • Proponents of Amendment 2 spent $43m to promote the benefits of approval
  • The opposition group confirmed it doesn’t plan to request a recount
  • The plan now is for sportsbooks to launch in late spring or early summer
St Louis
Missouri authorities have officially certified the recent election results, which means that legal sports betting is coming to the state. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

The Missouri Board of State Canvassers certified the recent election results on Tuesday, which means that legal sports betting is officially on the way to the state.

Amendment 2 passed by just 2,961 votes, showing the fine margin between success and failure for the campaign that saw proponents like DraftKings and FanDuel spend a state record $43m promoting the merits of approval. Caesars Entertainment was one of the biggest opponents and spent about $14m on its own efforts.

While a recount is possible if requested by an opposition group, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment confirmed it doesn’t plan to do so.

will be the 39th US state with some form of legal sports betting

Missouri will be the 39th US state with some form of legal sports betting and the 31st jurisdiction with online sportsbooks. Land-based casinos and the state’s professional sports teams can open retail sportsbooks, and each may partner with an online operator.

While the launch deadline is December 1, 2025, Missouri Gaming Commission Executive Director Mike Leara believes a realistic timeline is to go live in late spring or early summer. The regulator will soon start developing the regulations for the sector and the plan for launching retail and online sportsbooks.

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