Caesars provides funding for Missouri anti-sports betting lobby group
Las Vegas-based operator donates $4m to newly formed Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment ahead of the state heading to the ballot box in November
Caesars Entertainment has donated funds to a Missouri-based lobby group opposing any potential sports betting legislation within the state.
Last week, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment (MADOGA) launched its campaign against inclusion of sports betting legislation, dubbed Amendment 2, ahead of the election in November.
Amendment 2 will appear on the ballot as Missourians take part in the presidential election, and should the measure gain majority support, online sports betting would be ushered into the Show-Me State.
Records from the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) show that Caesars donated a little over $4m to MADOGA on September 13.
The donations were mainly made through Caesars-operated casinos within the state, with $1.4m coming from the Harrah’s North Kansas City casino.
The Tropicana St Louis and Isle of Capri Boonville casinos donated $1.3m each, while a further $156,202 donation was made directly from Caesars Enterprise Services.
Caesars becomes the latest operator to contribute to a lobby group concerned with legalized sports betting in the Show-Me State.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have so far donated to the pro-sports betting group Winning For Missouri Education, which launched its first ad campaign last week.
MEC data shows that both operators have donated a combined $9.5m to the campaign, which also has the support of Missouri sports franchises such as the Kansas City Chiefs, St Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Current.
Should Missouri legalize online sports betting, operators will pay a 10% wagering tax on revenue received, which will be funnelled towards education funding for Missouri schools and supplementing the state’s Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund.
Amendment 2 was given the go-ahead to be included on the November ballot after a ruling by a Missouri County Court earlier this month.
The legislation’s inclusion had been challenged by political consultants Jaqueline Wood and Blake Lawrence as the pair argued it had achieved ballot status via unconstitutional means.
EGR North America has contacted Caesars for comment.