Is Missouri’s Sports Betting Proposal Flawed?
Things Are More Complicated Than They Seem in the Home State of the Chiefs
Missourians Want to Bet, FFS!
Alright, fellow sports enthusiasts and risk-takers, let’s talk about Missouri’s grand plan to legalize sports betting. Now, it’s got the backing of some heavy hitters–the state’s major league sports teams are all in. But -and there’s always a but- a closer look at this proposal has got some folks scratching their heads, and not in a good way.
So, Governor Mike Parson’s crew did a little fiscal review dance and found something that doesn’t quite add up. Point S Turns out the proposed ballot question might be missing a crucial detail: who’s gonna collect all those sweet, sweet taxes and fees that come with legal sports betting?
According to the smarty-pants at the Department of Revenue, without a designated agency to handle the tax hustle, they can’t collect a dime. And the wording in this initiative petition has them thinking it’s about as profitable as a lemonade stand in winter.
Now, the spokesperson for the ballot initiative, Jack Cardetti, is playing defense. He’s waving the Missouri Constitution and statutes flag saying the Department of Revenue can handle the tax collection job just fine.
But Chuck Hatfield, the brains behind the ballot language, is throwing in the word “flexibility.” He says the chosen wording allows the administration to call the shots as they go. It’s either a genius move or a slick way of saying, “We’ll figure it out later.”
Right now, the frustration in Missouri is real. Six sports teams, including the Blues, Chiefs, and Cardinals, are so fed up with the Senate’s hesitation that they’re taking matters into their own hands. They’re collecting signatures like they’re trying to break a world record in autographs, all to get this on the November ballot.
The proposal, if it makes the cut, sets the sports betting tax rate at 10%, letting teams and casinos jump into both retail and online gambling. But here’s the kicker –the campaign’s got a cool $500,000 from FanDuel and DraftKings to grease the wheels.
The CEO of the Blues, Chris Zimmerman, is now shouting from the rooftops about Missourians missing out on legal sports wagering fun. He’s saying they’ve been playing shorthanded while dollars are slipping away to neighboring states.
My 2024 resolution is for the state of Missouri to allow sports betting
— Tyler Jordan (@imtylerjordan) January 21, 2024
But things are never what they seem when it comes to betting news, and there’s a plot twist –two sports betting bills are chilling in the Senate, but the vibe is kinda gloomy. It seems the Senate’s too caught up in dealing with unregulated slot machines to give sports betting the attention it deserves.
Oh, and did I mention the Missouri Gaming Commission’s got its own set of problems? Apparently, there’s no clear way for them to collect funds for a compulsive gambling prevention fund. It’s like opening a bakery without a recipe for cupcakes–things might not turn out as sweet as expected.
So here we are, Missouri, standing at the betting online crossroads for the Chiefs and a potential headache. Will this proposal fix its flaws, or are we in for a rollercoaster ride of uncertainty?
For gambling betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
