gambling

Amendment 2, which was narrowly approved by Missouri voters this election, states that the Missouri Gaming Commission must make sports betting available by Dec. 1, 2025.

The measure would have amended the Missouri Constitution to allow for a casino to be built near the Osage River and Bagnell Dam, south of U.S. 54. It would have increased the number of state-licensed casinos from 13 to 14.

The campaign behind Missouri Amendment 2, the November ballot measure to legalize sports gambling, claim the resulting revenues will help fund education in the state. But critics say the wording is misleading — and schools won't see any extra benefits.

Backers of Missouri Amendment 2, which would legalized sports gambling, claim in TV and online ads that the resulting revenue will boost public education. But its detractors point out there is no evidence Missouri schools will see any benefit.

Missouri Amendment 5 on the November ballot would clear the way for a new casino to be placed in the popular vacation spot.

During the Super Bowl, money changes hands based on the result of almost everything — the coin toss, the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning coach and even the length of the national anthem. Kansas' attempt to cash in on sports betting has yielded paltry results so far, and Missouri voters are considering a similar measure this November.

In November's election, Amendment 5 will ask Missouri voters if they want to allow a casino — plus a hotel, convention center and restaurants — on the Osage River near the Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the Ozarks. The plan is led by Bally’s, which operates a casino in Kansas City.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft initially said that the plan didn’t receive enough signatures in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. But a judge on Friday ruled that backers did collect enough, and ordered the measure included as Amendment 5 in the November election.

The Osage River Gaming & Convention Committee is asking a judge to reverse a decision by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office that its initiative petition didn't have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

If approved by Misouri voters, the development would include a hotel, convention center, restaurants and other attractions.

At a hearing Tuesday, Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek said the idea to place ads on machines owned by Torch Electronics stems from a meeting he had in a Chesterfield airplane hangar owned by the company’s lobbyist.

The chair of a Missouri House appropriations committee is demanding Treasurer Vivek Malek answer questions about the state’s involvement with Torch Electronics. The machines have been controversial for years, with some GOP lawmakers and state gaming officials arguing they are illegal gambling devices.