DraftKings and FanDuel Launch Petition to Legalize Sports Betting in Missouri

Missouri could soon join the ranks of states that allow legal sports betting, if a petition launched by several major sports teams (backed by DraftKings and FanDuel) succeeds.

The petitioners say that legalizing sports betting will help sports, fans, and the state’s economy. They expect to raise about $5 million a year for the Missouri budget from licensing fees alone, which could be used for education and gambling addiction treatment.

The petition is supported by teams like the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals (MLB), St. Louis Blues (NHL), and St. Louis City (MLS). The petition’s sponsors, DraftKings and FanDuel, each gave $250,000 to boost the campaign.

To qualify for the ballot, the petition needs 180,000 signatures within a year. If it does, the voters will decide on the legalization issue in November.

The sports teams are busy gathering signatures from their fans across the state. If the petition passes, the betting market in Missouri could open by December 2025.

Right now, about 80% of U.S. states allow sports betting. A similar campaign is going on in New York, where DraftKings, FanDuel, and others are running TV ads to legalize online casinos (sports betting is already legal in New York).