Missouri Voters Approve Sports Betting Amendment

Missouri voters have narrowly approved a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, with implementation required by December 1, 2025, although state regulators anticipate an earlier launch in summer 2025. The amendment passed with a razor-thin margin of just 2,961 votes, making Missouri the 39th state to legalize sports betting. The surge in sports betting across the U.S. follows the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to regulate sports betting independently, leading to a dramatic increase in total wagers from $13 billion in 2019 to over $93 billion in 2023. However, this expansion also raises concerns regarding gambling addiction and financial impacts, prompting calls for stricter regulations on credit card use in betting. In Florida, the Seminole Tribe has resumed sports betting operations under a compact that grants them exclusive rights, marking a significant revival of the industry in the state. The ongoing evolution of sports betting in the U.S. reflects both growing consumer demand and the challenges of managing its societal impacts.