Editor’s note: To interview a representative from GeoComply, please contact press@geocomply.com
Jefferson City, Mo – New data from Super Bowl Weekend reveals the depth of Missouri’s missed chances to capitalize on the benefits of legalizing sports betting, which could provide tens of millions every year for Missouri classrooms. Gaming compliance company, GeoComply, which tracks and monitors compliance for online betting companies, found that 431,000 Missourians tried, but failed to place bets in neighboring states over Super Bowl weekend alone, a 51% increase from last year.
The data shows that 48% of these were attempting to access legal sportsbooks in Kansas, while 37% were attempting to place bets with Illinois sportsbooks. While these bets weren’t accepted because they were physically in Missouri at the time, tens of thousands of others likely drove into one of Missouri’s neighboring states to place bets and help our neighboring economies.
This data further underscores there is a clear appetite to legalize sports wagering to fund education, despite inaction from the General Assembly on this issue. Missouri is not only missing out on education funding and economic impact, but it is also depriving Missourians of the safeguards offered by a regulated betting framework.
Winning for Missouri Education, a coalition spearheaded by the state’s six professional sports teams, is taking decisive action by gathering signatures so that Missourians can vote directly in November to approve a legal, safe sports betting program that would produce tens of millions in dedicated education funding annually.
Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education, emphasized the missed opportunities, stating, “Each year without legalized sports betting, Missouri forfeits tens of millions of dollars that could bolster our education system. With the Super Bowl data spotlighting the issue, it’s clear that Missourians are already betting billions on offshore sites or across state lines, without contributing a single dime to our schools or our state’s economy. It’s time to legalize sports betting and bring those dollars back to Missouri.”
The proposed initiative would allow Missourians to participate in safe, legal and regulated sports betting, regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission. Sports wagering would be taxed at 10% and generate tens of millions of dollars for Missouri public education.
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Paid for by Winning for Missouri Education, Mike Pridmore, Treasurer