Missourians File Lawsuit to Prevent Sports Betting Measure from Appearing on November Ballot

Two Missouri residents have filed a lawsuit to block a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize sports betting from appearing on the state’s November 5 ballot. Political consultants Blake Lawrence and Jacqueline Wood have accused Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of improperly conducting the certification process to determine whether the petition met the necessary criteria for ballot inclusion.

The Measure May Not Have Garnered Enough Votes

According to a report by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the lawsuit, filed in Cole County Circuit Court, alleges that Ashcroft used new congressional district boundaries, established after the 2020 Census, to identify where petition signers lived, but relied on old boundaries to calculate the number of signatures required in each district.

The complaint argues that if the correct procedure had been followed, the 1st Congressional District in St. Louis and the 5th Congressional District in Kansas City would not have met the required signature threshold to advance the amendment. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that many of the signatures verified within these districts were legally invalid, further compromising the proposal’s eligibility.

To qualify for the ballot in Missouri, a petition must obtain signatures from 8% of legal voters in six of the state’s eight congressional districts, based on the most recent gubernatorial election. The lawsuit accuses Ashcroft of using inconsistent thresholds based on outdated district boundaries rather than a uniform statewide figure.

Potential Benefits of Legalized Sports Betting

The proposed amendment would establish a 10% tax rate on sports betting and permit Missouri’s professional sports teams and 13 casinos to operate both retail and online sports-betting platforms. Supporters argue that the measure would generate millions of dollars for the state and legalize an activity that many residents already engage in, either illegally or through out-of-state operators.

Team mascots from the Royals, Blues, and Cardinals helped deliver the boxes of signatures, underscoring the strong support for legalized sports betting from these franchises. Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals and a key supporter of the amendment, questioned the validity of the lawsuit, emphasizing the widespread backing the petition received across the state.

The case is currently before Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker, who will decide whether the sports betting measure will remain on the ballot or be removed. The outcome could have significant implications for Missouri’s gaming industry and the ongoing debate over the legalization of sports betting in the state.