Missouri Sports Betting Ballot Ruling Expected Very Soon

The fate of a 2024 Missouri sports betting ballot will be coming soon.

Recently, a lawsuit was filed that jeopardizes the Missouri sports betting bill that is currently slated to appear on the November electoral ballot. The issue is being fast-tracked, because it has to be. The Show-Me State’s elections are roughly two months away. 

To that end, a Cole County Circuit Judge oversaw a hearing on Thursday, September 5. Though he did not offer an official ruling on the matter, he intimated that one could come as soon as Friday, September 6. 

The stakes in this case are high. After multiple failed attempts to legalize sports betting in Missouri, pro sports teams in the region have taken things into their own hands. Their hope is to then shift this issue into voters’ hands. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, they were on pace to do exactly this. Winning for Missouri Education, the coalition that features pro sports teams and is spearheaded by St. Louis Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., gathered over 370,000 signatures for a petition to legalize Missouri sports betting. This total is more than double the required amount of 340,000. 

Shortly after Winning for Missouri Education submitted the petition, they received verification of their signatures. At that point, the measure was slated to appear on the November ballot. The future of Missouri sports betting was, at the time, in voters’ hands.

Now, however, it appears that could change.

Breakdown of the Missouri Sports Betting Lawsuit

Political consultants Jaqueline Wood and Blake Lawrence filed the lawsuit in late August. It named Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft as the primary defendant. The suit’s argument reportedly rests on what they believe to be insufficient signature collection. Here is Legal Sports Report’s Pat Evans with more details:

“The plaintiffs claim Ashcroft’s certification process was flawed. They argue that he used 2020 gubernatorial voting figures to determine the required signatures but counted them using a redrawn congressional map from after the election. The suit argues Winning for Missouri Education’s signature gathering fell short in four of eight congressional districts when it needed six to qualify for the ballot.

“‘In the course of review and evidence, you’ll find there are 768 signatures that were counted that were simply invalid,’ Ellinger said during his opening statement. ‘Evidence will overwhelmingly show that petition did not receive necessary signatures to be placed on the ballot.’”

If the circuit court judge, Daniel R. Green, rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it will likely further delay the Missouri sports betting timeline. However, it isn’t yet clear how the lawsuit’s argument will be interpreted.

Spotlighting potentially outdated voting figures is a good place to start. But finding 768 invalid signatures doesn’t necessarily upend the entire process. Remember, Winning for Mouris Education cobbled together 370,000 plus signatures. The invalid findings aren’t even 0.5 percent of that total. 

We are most likely missing part of the argument. Could those 768 signatures be from a smaller sample? Is the lawsuit trying to get the ballot measure overturned on the basis of using flawed data? 

Expectations for How the Missouri Sports Gambling Place will Play Out

Many have dismissed this case as a footnote in the Missouri sports betting process. Those same people seem to believe this case lacks sufficient proof the signature process was invalid. 

However, the plaintiffs clearly have a case. It would not still be with the judge if they didn’t. 

In fact, Judge Green denied a motion to dismiss the Missouri sports betting case from the defendants. 

To be sure, this doesn’t guarantee anything one way or the other. But it does prove the court deems this an issue worth reviewing and deliberating over.

Another Wrinkle Emerges in the Missouri Sports Betting Case

On top of everything else, another detail has come to light. According to Evans, questions about connections driving the suit are now hitting the forefront.

“The plaintiffs, Wood and Blake Lawrence, are both political consultants who largely work with Democratic clients. During Thursday’s testimony, Wood said she brought the lawsuit at the request of one of her attorneys and was relying on information provided to her. They are represented by a team of lawyers led by Ellinger, the chair of the Republican National Lawyers Association. In the past, Ellinger has represented the Missouri Gaming Association.”

This is bizarre. It sure sounds like another party is driving—or at least helping to drive—the suit.

Not that it matters. The plaintiffs wouldn’t be the only party getting backed. Sponsors of the signature ballot include a handful of online sportsbooks in the United States. They helped fund the initiative to gather the necessary signatures. 

Potential Outcomes of the Missouri Sports Gambling Lawsuit

So, what happens if the Missouri sports betting ballot signature is overturned? In all likelihood, it would remove the proposal from November’s election. 

In this scenario, then, the earliest Missouri sports betting could be legalized is sometime in 2026. And that’s assuming another initiative is successful between now and then. There is no guarantee that another signature ballot would work. Nor is there any guarantee the House and Senate pass their own bill. After all, they have tried in the past. Each time, they have failed.

Now, in the event the court upholds the signature ballot, Missouri voters would decide the fate of sports betting. And guess what? Legalization isn’t guaranteed in that case, either. 

The latest polls show that about half of voters support Missouri sports betting. They also show that over 20 percent appear to be undecided. If these numbers are accurate, only 30 percent or so of voters actively oppose Missouri sports betting.

Based on these returns, it seems that the ballot signature will pass if given the opportunity. And in the event this is true, it means the fate of Missouri sports betting is almost literally in the Cole County District Court’s hands.

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