Missouri Betting Opposition Pulls Ads as Proponents Ramp Up Spending

legalize online and retail sports betting, has shifted its strategy. The anti-betting group Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment recently canceled $1.2 million in television ments to focus on grassroots outreach efforts in the final weeks before voters head to the polls.

The cancellation, reported late last week, includes ads reserved for several weeks. Brooke Foster, spokesperson for the opposition campaign, explained the decision to pivot towards community engagement. “We have decided to focus our efforts on grassroots outreach and community conversations during the two and a half weeks that remain before Election Day,” Foster stated.

Opposition Campaign Backed by Caesars

Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment has received substantial financial backing from Caesars Entertainment. Caesars, the only licensed casino operator in Missouri actively opposing the amendment, has contributed more than $14 million to the campaign through its in-state casinos. The company is concerned that Amendment 2 would allow online gambling platforms to operate without partnering with local casinos, a key reason for its opposition.

Though the campaign has already spent $2.7 million on ads, it is now focusing on mobilizing voters through direct outreach efforts. Foster also expressed concerns about the spending habits of Amendment 2 proponents, accusing out-of-state corporations of “throwing millions of dollars at misleading TV ads.”

Pro-Betting Campaign Spends Big

In stark contrast, ers of Amendment 2 continue to FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, as well as several of the state’s professional sports teams. FanDuel and DraftKings alone have contributed over $36 million, making this the most well-funded ballot measure campaign in Missouri’s history.

The campaign’s advertising blitz has included high-profile endorsements, such as a recent video ad featuring St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith. These ads have emphasized the potential benefits of legalized sports betting, particularly the allocation of gambling tax revenue to educational programs in Missouri.

Jack Cardetti, a spokesman for the Winning for Missouri Education campaign, voiced confidence in the campaign’s current position. “We feel really good about where we are right now,” he said, adding that the campaign would continue to push its message to voters up until Election Day.

Narrowing Public Opinion

Public opinion on Amendment 2 remains divided as the election nears. An August survey by St. Louis University/YouGov indicated that slightly over 50% of voters ed legalizing sports betting, with 30% opposed. However, Foster noted that the gap has since narrowed due to the effectiveness of the opposition’s ads, bringing the race to a “margin of error-type close.”

If ed, Amendment 2 would allow Missouri’s six licensed casinos and in-state sports teams to partner with online sports betting operators, creating up to 14 licenses for online platforms. Additionally, it would permit sports teams to set up retail wagering locations, providing another avenue for revenue generation.

With both sides intensifying their efforts in the campaign’s final stretch, voters will ultimately decide on the future of sports betting in Missouri on November 5.

Source:

“Opponents of Missouri sports betting amendment pull TV ads in campaign’s homestretch“, missouriindependent.com, Missouri Independent, October 18, 2024.