~ Amendment 2 would generate tens of millions annually for education ~
Jefferson City, MO – The Winning for Missouri Education coalition announced that the Missouri Secretary of State has verified the signatures required to officially place Amendment 2 on the November ballot. This historic effort, led by Missouri’s six professional sports franchises, will allow Missouri voters to legalize sports betting and dedicate tens of millions of dollars annually for public education.
The proposed initiative would legalize sports betting, a move that would bring Missouri in line with 38 other states, including 7 of Missouri’s 8 neighbors. Estimates show that Missourians currently wager hundreds of millions of dollars each year through illegal, offshore sites or by traveling to neighboring states. Amendment 2 would allow Missourians to place bets in a safer, regulated manner, bringing millions in new funding to Missouri classrooms, where teachers are some of the lowest paid in the entire country.
“Missouri is now just one step away from joining most other states in legalizing sports betting and being able to provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms,” said Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals. “On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot. A vote for Amendment 2 in November is the right thing to do for both Missouri public schools and our favorite sports teams.”
The initiative has garnered widespread support from across the state, with polling consistently showing that over 60% of Missourians back the measure. An Emerson College poll published in February as well as a poll published in March by Saint Louis University (SLU) and YouGov, found over 60% of Missourians supported the initiative to legalize sports betting, with both Democrats and Republicans, as well as rural and urban corners of the state, supporting it. The campaign credits this widespread support with their ability to collect 340,000 signatures to place the issue on the ballot.
Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education, stated, “Amendment 2 will bring a vital new, permanent funding source for our schools at a time it’s badly needed. Missouri teachers are among the lowest paid in the entire nation, which hurts Missouri’s ability to attract and retain quality educators. By keeping sports betting dollars in-state, we can invest in our students and communities and ensure a brighter future for Missouri.”
The Winning for Missouri Education coalition will continue to work tirelessly to inform voters about the benefits of this initiative as the November election approaches. The proposed measure would see sports wagering regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission, with a 10% tax on revenue earmarked for public education.
### Paid for by Winning for Missouri Education, Mike Pridmore, Treasurer