Caesars Entertainment has donated $4 million to support a campaign against legalizing sports betting in Missouri, according to a report from the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Caesars made three separate contributions to the Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment campaign through its casino brands, including Harrah’s North Kansas City, Tropicana St Louis and Isle of Capri Boonville.
Launched last week, MADOGA aims to persuade Missouri voters to reject Amendment 2, which seeks to legalize sports betting. The group argues that the amendment primarily benefits the operators and fails to adequately address problem gambling.
At the same time, other sportsbook operators are backing the amendment. DraftKings and FanDuel have collectively contributed more than $9.5 million to support the ballot initiative. Major sports teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Blues support it, and joined forces in January to form the Winning for Missouri Education Committee. Last week, the group launched its first commercial, which highlights that the 10 percent tax rate on sports betting could generate millions each year for public education.
“These ads capture the true essence of what Amendment 2 is all about — ensuring every Missouri child has access to a quality education,” campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti said in a news release.
Missouri voters will have the chance to vote on legalizing online and in-person sports betting in a ballot this November. It needs more than 50 percent approval to pass, after which the state is expected to launch its sports betting market before the start of the 2025 football season. The amendment requires that sportsbooks are operational by December 2025.
