Missouri sports betting amendment opponents withdraw TV ads as election nears

The organization voiced that it wants to focus on direct contacts and ‘grass roots’ support.
Key Points
- Amendment 2 will open a legal sports betting market in Missouri if passed
- Voters will have the final say on whether this is approved
A campaign opposed to a recently proposed Missouri sports betting constitutional amendment has canceled $1.2m in TV ad spots, according to a local news report in the Missouri Independent.
The Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment group told local news that the move was to shift its focus to “more direct contacts.” The organization has previously purchased ad space during the past several weeks to air campaign ads speaking out against Amendment 2, which would bring sports betting to the state.
Spokeswoman Brooke Foster reached out the Missouri Independent via email to explain the decision in more detail.
She said in a statement, “While the out-of-state online gambling corporations continue to throw millions of dollars at misleading TV ads, we have decided to focus our efforts on grassroots outreach and community conversations during the two and a weeks that remain before Election Day.”
After weeks of debate regarding whether a petition to put the issue on the upcoming ballot was valid, Missouri Judge Daniel Green, a Circuit Court Judge in Cole County recently struck down an attempt to invalidate the petition.
Good to know: Should voters say yes to Amendment 2, Missouri will join the more than 35 states with open and regulated sports wagering markets
This gave Missouri voters a chance to pull the lever next month in favor of a legal sports betting market.
Missouri’s current law allows the Gaming Commission to distribute gaming 13 licenses. However, these can only go to gaming facilities that are located on the Missouri River and Mississippi River.
In addition to legalized sports betting, voters will have a say in whether a new casino is welcome near Lake of the Ozarks.
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