Nov 7, 2024 - Business
Missouri becomes 39th state to legalize sports betting
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Nearly 80% of U.S. states have legalized sports betting after Missouri voters narrowly approved it Tuesday.
Why it matters: Sports gambling has swept the nation since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door in 2018 for states to allow it.
Driving the news: Missouri voters adopted a constitutional amendment legalizing sports betting by a razor-thin margin: 50.07% yes to 49.93% no.
- With 2.93 million people casting ballots, the measure passed by less than 5,000 votes.
- Sports betting is expected to be available in the state no later than Dec. 1, 2025.
Context: Missouri is the 39th state to legalize sports betting in some respect.
- The two most popular sports betting apps, FanDuel and DraftKings, both spent heavily to support the measure.
Yes, but: The two most populous states in the nation — California and Texas — are among the holdouts.
