Caesars Pours $4M Into Campaign Opposing Legal Missouri Sports Betting

The “Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment” political committee was formed on 10 September. According to records from the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC), the campaign was funded by a casino giant on 13 September through three separate contributions under its casino names. Tropicana St. Louis (now Horseshoe Casino) and the Isle of Capri Casino Booneville each donated $1.3 million, while Harrah’s North Kansas City contributed $1.4 million.

So far, Caesars is the only casino company in the state to take a clear position on Missouri sports betting. The proposal, listed as Amendment 2 on the November ballot, would legalize statewide digital sports betting through platforms tied to existing casinos and professional sports venues. It originated from Missouri’s professional sports teams, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals.

Amendment 2 has created a divide between traditional casino companies and digital wagering platforms. Digital platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel are backing the initiative, which has gained support from the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), consisting of BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel. The SBA rolled out its first ad last week, despite having no physical presence in the state.

According to MEC records, DraftKings and FanDuel have contributed a combined $9.525 million to the "Winning for Missouri Education" committee, which was formed in January. Major contributions include $2.5 million in January, $1 million in March, and more recent contributions of $3.525 million from DraftKings and $1.5 million from FanDuel in August and September, respectively.