The benefit of sports betting in Missouri schools may be the roll of the dice

Oct. 30 – Missouri schools could hit the jackpot if voters legalize sports betting at the ballot box on Nov. 5, but some are not yet betting on how much money they will actually see.

Missouri remains one of a dozen states where sports gambling is illegal, and most of its neighbors, including Kansas, allow it.

Supporters of the measure known as Amendment 2 are betting that statewide education benefits will move the needle toward voters. The state will donate 10% of the proceeds to Missouri schools.

Winning for Missouri Education, which started the Amendment 2 ballot petition, estimates that tax revenue generated from legal sports betting could mean tens of millions of dollars a year for Missouri schools, and potentially as much as $100 million over the next five years. years.

However, some believe the language in the amendment is unclear. While the money may go to schools, there are no promises as to how much.

Officials from the St. Patrick’s School District Joseph plan to remain cautious because they are unsure how much money they will actually make if the measure is approved by voters.

“Yes, money can come to schools. We don’t guarantee that,” said Shannon Nolte, director of non-academic services for the district. “I really think some of that revenue would go to schools. What amount and what kind of money is simply unknown.”

According to the proposed amendment, 10% of tax revenues generated from sports betting will be allocated to education in Missouri. However, not knowing how much will go to local schools means many municipalities, including the one in St. Joseph, does not plan how to spend the unexpected amount.

“Then it’s hard for us to budget accordingly because, especially if you’re going to pay employees, you want to know that this is the annual income you can expect,” Nolte said.

Before sports betting was in the hands of voters, several measures were proposed to lawmakers to legalize it. Neither ever managed to gain enough traction to make the transition.

“That’s the way the system is built. Legislation should be difficult to pass, and for good reason,” said state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, R-Savannah. “So we don’t pass on a whole bunch of stuff that’s not good for people.”

Van Schoiack believes that sports betting should be promoted as a simple freedom that Missourians should have. He knows the topic well and has repeatedly voted in favor of a sports betting bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, but it ultimately failed to pass in the Senate.

However, like Nolte, Van Schoiack does not count on the benefits that legalization will bring to schools.

“It’s a shame it wasn’t promoted as much as it would have increased funding for schools,” he said. “The funds will go to schools, but they may even be taken from the other side, because this is how our formula for schools is structured.”

If Amendment 2 is passed, some of the money generated from sports betting will also go to the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund, which includes compulsive gambling research, treatment plans and other services related to compulsive gambling.

If passed, Missourians will be able to place sports bets within the state no later than December 1 of next year.

Jacob Meikel can be reached at [email protected].

Follow him on Twitter @NPNowMeikel.