Introducing All The Gambling Measures On The 2024 Election Ballot

There are six gambling-related measures on the Nov. 5 ballot, spanning four states.

One could lead to a decent chunk of revenue for commercial sportsbook operators. One could change the future approval process of casinos in a state. Two would add a new casino in two states. And two deal with gambling revenue changes.

Let’s dive into each one as citizens in these four states prepare to cast their votes Tuesday.

Missouri sports betting likely happening

This is the big one. Amendment 2 in Missouri would legalize sports betting — online and retail — in Missouri. It’s backed by Missouri’s professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Blues.

DraftKings and FanDuel have both backed Amendment 2 to the tune of more than $20 million each, while Caesars has spent roughly $14 million in opposition because the amendment’s language wouldn’t let it have an online license for each of its three properties in Missouri.

This has been the most expensive ballot measure in Missouri history.

All signs point to this amendment passing. Recent polling has support at 52% and opposition around 25%. Plus, the opposition recently canceled more than $1 million in TV ads in October. That’s not quite a white flag … but it’s close.

The revenue tax would be 10%, and that money would go to Missouri’s educational institutions. The primary backer, Winning for Missouri education, collaborated with an independent research firm and reported Amendment 2 would lead to revenue of $559.8 million after five years.

Future of Arkansas casinos, Pope County

Ballot Issue 2 in Arkansas would halt a new casino from being built in Pope County, and it would require a majority approval from a county before a casino is built inside of it in the future.

Arkansas’ Secretary of State actually tried to have this ballot issue nullified in September, claiming the group behind Issue 2, Local Voters in Charge, didn’t properly attain or certify its signatures to get this referendum on the ballot. The state Supreme Court struck down that attempt, though, and voting will proceed as normal for Issue 2.

At its root, this feels like a battle between tribal gaming interests.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment currently holds the license for the Pope County casino and would built Legends Resort & Casino if voters don’t derail those plans.

Meanwhile, the group behind Local Voters in Charge is Choctaw Nation, a gaming tribe in Oklahoma — based along the Arkansas border, near Pope County. It owns Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, a group of seven casino resorts in Oklahoma — including some in the same area as the proposed Legends Resort & Casino.

In a bit of a plot twist, Choctaw Nation actually applied for this Pope County casino license in 2019, but was rejected. However, to be fair, there is anecdotal merit behind Issue 2’s goal to have counties approve casinos before they get built: 60% of Pope County voted against the amendment in 2018 that legalized four Arkansas casinos, including the Pope County casino.

CNE owns nine casinos in Oklahoma and a 10th is coming. It competes directly with Choctaw Nation casinos in Oklahoma.

Choctaw Nation has spent $8.8 million on this ballot measure, while CNE has spent $11.6 million to oppose it.

Lake of the Ozarks?

Amendment 5 in Arkansas represents the Bally’s Corporation’s attempt to build a casino in the Lake of the Ozarks along the Osage River.

Current Arkansas law permits only 13 licensed riverboat casinos, and there are 13 right now. So Amendment 5 would change the constitution to allow a 14th license, which Bally’s would get.

There has been roughly $10 million on the Yes on 5 campaign.

Meanwhile, opposition comes from Osage Nation, an Oklahoma gaming tribe that is currently trying to build its own casino on land that it owns in the Lake of the Ozarks. The Missouri Gaming Commission also opposes Amendment 5, stating it believes the 13-casino cap should stay as is.

However, there has been $0 spent to oppose Amendment 5.

The state government estimates a new riverboat casino in the Lake of the Ozarks would add $14.3 million in annual local gaming tax revenue.

Letting Colorado get more from sportsbooks

Colorado Proposition JJ is pretty simple: When voters approved Colorado sports betting in 2019, they approved a 10% revenue tax with the state being allowed to retain $29 million per year to fund state water projects.

Prop JJ would allow the state to exceed that $29 million if and when the tax revenue gets that high. If it fails, the state would have to refund betting operators any taxes paid above $29 million.

Tons of statewide elected officials, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, support Prop JJ. It would be surprising if it didn’t pass.

Arkansas Lottery funding additions

Currently, the Arkansas Lottery funds scholarships for two- and four-year universities.

Ballot Issue 1 would also allow lottery proceeds to fund scholarships for vocational schools and technical institutes in Arkansas.

There doesn’t appear to be any real opposition to this measure.

Casino in Petersburg, Virginia

Petersburg voters will decide whether to approve a casino in Petersburg, which would become Virginia’s fifth casino.

The Cordish Group would manage the property — Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia — and it would be part of a $1.5 billion mixed-use entertainment district.

The Cordish Group is one of the more financially powerful and influential anti-online casino groups in the US. So adding their presence to Virginia could hurt that state’s iGaming chances in the future. 

Petersburg officials have been publicly positive, for the most part, about this casino, indicating a likely successful Nov. 5 for the Cordish Group in Virginia.