An opposition campaign emerged this week against the Missouri sports betting question while proponents launched their first TV ad, following a court defeat of an effort to remove the measure from the ballot..
The Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment campaign filed organizational paperwork Tuesday to oppose the MO sports betting ballot question in November. The campaign’s emergence comes after a Cole County judge ruled in favor of the certification of the sports betting ballot question last week.
Meanwhile, the campaign supporting the ballot question, Winning for Missouri Education, released its first ad this week. Missouri’s November ballot was finalized Tuesday.
MO sports betting ballot opposition
The organizational paperwork for Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment lists Kathryn Drennen as the treasurer. Drennen owns St. Louis-based Midwest Compliance Group with Eric Drennen.
Neither is a registered lobbyist in Missouri. As of Wednesday afternoon, Midwest Compliance Group had not returned calls from LSR.
According to a press release, the campaign was started to oppose the “deceptive measure written by and for the financial benefit of its out-of-state corporate sponsors and funders.”
“We are building a broad coalition and are prepared to wage a vigorous campaign to educate voters across the state and ensure the measure is defeated,” spokesperson Brooke Foster said.
Still no public opponent to sports betting question
Two Democratic political consultants and an established Republican lawyer led the lawsuit challenging the Secretary of State‘s certification of the sports betting question. During a hearing last week, plaintiff Jacqueline Wood said her lawyer told her to bring the suit and was going by information provided to her.
Wood’s lawyer, Marc Ellinger, has represented the Missouri Gaming Association in the past. The MGA has not commented on the ballot initiative.
MGA members, including Caesars Entertainment, have declined to comment on the sports betting ballot initiative and lawsuit. Multiple industry sources told LSR that Missouri casino operators are unhappy with the ballot question language, which would allow two untethered online sportsbook licenses. The six operators would receive one license each.
Ballot promise at opposition core
The campaign’s website said the ballot question’s authors wrote it with loopholes to benefit out-of-state companies and professional sports teams. Missouri’s six pro sports teams launched the ballot initiative, while FanDuel and DraftKings have contributed more than $10 million to support the ballot initiative.
The campaign said the question allows the “out-of-state gambling companies a free rein to make billions of dollars.” It calls the promise of sports betting tax dollars deceptive. The ballot question sets the tax rate at 10%.
The website said there is no guarantee sports betting will raise money to fund Missouri education. It cites a Wichita Beacon article reporting Super Bowl betting in Kansas reached $194 million, generating $1,134 in tax dollars.
Pro campaign launches TV ad
Winning for Missouri Education announced its first TV advertisement this week. The ad aims to “emphasize the significant impact” Missouri sports betting will have on the state’s education.
“These ads capture the true essence of what Amendment 2 is all about, ensuring that every Missouri child has access to a quality education,” campaign spokesperson Jack Cardetti said in a press release Wednesday. “We’re thrilled to have the voices of Missouri families leading the charge, and we believe their reasons for voting for Amendment 2 will resonate with voters across the state.”
Recent Missouri sports betting polling found 50% of voters support the initiative, with 21% undecided.
