In a Missouri Ethics Commission filing late last week, it was disclosed that four Missouri-based Caesars entities had donated upwards of $4 million to the campaign to defeat sports betting legalization in Missouri.
You read that right: Caesars is opposed to the legalization of sports betting in Missouri — at least as currently proposed. To this end, context is king.
While Caesars did not return multiple messages from Action Network seeking an explanation for its opposition to Amendment 2, iGaming Business and others have reported that a major factor is the proposed allowance of only one skin — or betting platform — per casino company, whereas failed legislative efforts in the past would have allowed for three skins per company.
Caesars, which operates a handful of retail casinos in Missouri, is thus far alone in opposing a coalition (known as the Sports Betting Alliance) featuring DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics and multiple professional sports franchises that are backing a ballot initiative, which will be put to a public vote in November.
DraftKings and FanDuel have thus far combined to contribute approximately $10 million to the campaign to legalize sports betting in Missouri. Of the major sportsbook operators involved on either side of the issue, only Caesars has a brick-and-mortar presence in Missouri.
Opponents Playing Up ‘Out-of-State’ Aspect
While proponents of Amendment 2 are touting all the tax money it will funnel toward education in Missouri, opponents cite the ability to deduct promotions as a loophole that can be exploited by “out-of-state gambling corporations.”
“Amendment 2 is a bad deal for Missouri,” said Brooke Foster, a spokesperson for Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment. “This deceptive measure was written by and for the financial benefit of its out-of-state corporate sponsors and funders.”
