The St. Louis Cardinals are very frustrated with the lack of progress by Missouri lawmakers to legalize sports betting in the state. With the chances of a betting bill being passed in the final two weeks of the current legislative session looking unlikely, the MLB team’s leadership is looking at other options.
If sports betting made it onto next year’s ballot, it would only need a 50% majority to pass.
Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III would like the matter put to a public vote so that Missourians can have their voices heard directly. If sports betting made it onto next year’s ballot, it would only need a 50% majority to pass.
The Cardinals want fans to be able to place bets while they are in Busch Stadium as well as elsewhere in the state. Sports fans talking to local media explained how being able to bet would make the Cardinals games even more exciting. The team’s leadership agrees that legal sports betting would boost fan engagement and unlock sponsorship opportunities.
A big roadblock for legislation in Missouri is the Senate. A bill that would legalize sports betting made it through the House this session but stalled in the Senate.