Lawsuit Challenges Missouri Sports Betting Amendment's Path to the November Ballot

Missouri, aiming to prevent a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize sports wagering from appearing on the November ballot. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court, targets the certification process used by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, arguing that it failed to follow constitutional guidelines in determining whether the sports betting proposal had garnered enough valid signatures.

Dispute Over Signature Certification Process

Central to the lawsuit is the claim that the Secretary of State’s office employed an outdated methodology when ing the signatures collected to the sports betting initiative. According to Missouri law, for a proposed initiative to qualify for the ballot, it must receive signatures from 8% of legal voters in six of the state’s eight congressional districts.

The dispute arises from the fact that the Secretary of State’s office did not use the newly redrawn congressional districts, established following the 2020 U.S. Census, to calculate the necessary signatures.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that if the current district lines had been used, the proposal would not have met the required threshold in the 1st Congressional District. The suit further contends that the office should have calculated the required signatures by multiplying the total vote count from the 2020 gubernatorial election by 8% and then dividing that figure by eight, which would have resulted in the proposal falling short in both the 1st and 5th Congressional Districts.

Moreover, the lawsuit alleges that some signatures deemed valid by the Secretary of State’s office were not, in fact, legal in the 1st and 5th Districts. This discrepancy, the plaintiffs assert, could potentially disqualify the sports betting proposal from appearing on the ballot.

The sports wagering initiative in question was launched late last year, driven by the frustration of major sports teams and casino companies over the repeated failure to sports betting legislation in the state. Although the campaign has been publicly championed by Missouri’s prominent professional sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, the funding for the $6.3 million signature campaign has primarily come from two of the largest online sports wagering platforms, FanDuel and DraftKings.

Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, has been a vocal advocate for the initiative. In response to the lawsuit, DeWitt dismissed the legal challenge as baseless, stating, “Missourians came out in force to sign the petition that will be on the ballot in November.” DeWitt’s confidence reflects the broader the initiative has garnered from both sports teams and the general public.

Potential Implications for Missouri’s Gaming Landscape

If the sports betting amendment ultimately makes it onto the November ballot and is approved by voters, it would result in a significant shift in Missouri’s gaming landscape. The proposed amendment includes a 10% tax on revenues generated from sports wagering, with the proceeds earmarked for education programs within the state. In comparison, Kansas, which legalized sports betting in 2022, generated $9.8 million in tax revenue from $172 million wagered during June alone.

The ballot language for the Missouri initiative anticipates annual revenue of up to $28.9 million, which would be allocated to public education. This potential windfall has been a key selling point for proponents of the amendment, who argue that legalizing sports betting would bring much-needed funds to the state’s schools.

Despite the enthusiasm from ers, the legal challenge raises significant questions about the future of the sports betting amendment. The lawsuit, filed by Missouri citizens Blake Lawrence and Jacqueline Wood, specifically challenges the methodology used by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in certifying the signatures. The plaintiffs allege that Ashcroft’s office did not use the correct methods to count the signatures, potentially invalidating the proposal’s eligibility for the ballot.

As the legal process unfolds, the outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the future of sports betting in Missouri. While the Secretary of State’s office has yet to comment on the lawsuit, the stakes are high for both sides as they await a resolution.

With the November election fast approaching, the legal wrangling over the sports betting amendment will likely continue to generate attention and debate. For now, the fate of legalized sports wagering in Missouri remains uncertain, as the courts prepare to weigh in on the validity of the signature certification process.

Source:

”Lawsuit argues sports wagering amendment should be kept off Missouri ballot”, missouriindependent.com, August 22, 2024.

”Lawsuit aims to block sports betting on Missouri ballot”, fox2now.com, August 23, 2024.