## Chapter Twenty-Two: A Grand Slam for Missouri Sports Wagering? –
In the twenty-second installment of “The Political World Series,” Brandon Busman and Robin Harrison welcome Mike Whittle, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the St. Louis Cardinals, to talk about the advancement of sports wagering in Missouri.
Home > Sports Wagering > Chapter Twenty-Two: A Grand Slam for Missouri Sports Wagering?
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Grand Slam for Missouri Sports Wagering?
For a long time, numerous efforts to make sports betting legal in Missouri have been unsuccessful. The most recent attempts involved Senate Bill 30 and House Bill 556, which made some headway before being rejected or left unresolved.
But a shift may be on the horizon. The St. Louis Cardinals are part of a group of Missouri professional sports teams that last month submitted a new request to bring sports betting to the “Show Me State.”
“We’ve been working, doing our best to push this forward in the legislative process,” Whittle said. “Initially, it was basically pushing it at the league level, that’s how it was in the early years.
“I think in the last three years or so, we’ve come together with other sports teams in Missouri, and we’ve been pushing to move this forward.”
It’s Coming Soon or Later
Considering the slow progress of sports betting in the state, it’s no surprise that teams like the Cardinals are taking the initiative into their own hands. Whittle believes they’re not the only ones who will benefit.
The Cardinals are convinced that sports wagering is a phenomenal method to engage supporters more deeply, and it’s also a novel avenue for the state to generate revenue, they stated.
However, with only twelve months remaining before the 2024 US presidential election, how will the Cardinals achieve this goal? Ultimately, it all hinges on the supporters, who possess the authority to elevate sports betting to a top priority.
“We have faith in the citizens of Missouri and our supporters. We perceive a responsibility to serve them and propel this initiative forward, rather than remaining stagnant in a circumstance where it’s lawful everywhere else,” the Cardinals expressed.
Cash, cash, cash.
The league’s proposition isn’t drastically dissimilar from what the Missouri House of Representatives has already endorsed.
“Our proposition isn’t significantly different from what the Missouri House approved; there are a few minor adjustments here and there,” Whittel clarified.
“For the most part, including the proposed tax rate, it’s identical to the 10% tax rate the House passed, and the charges are likely to be even greater.”