The US presidential election on Tuesday (5 November) could result in major changes to how the country is run but, in four states, gambling expansion is also on the ballot. And in Colorado, the amount of gambling tax dollars earmarked for water projects will be decided.
For the gambling industry as a whole, a decision by Missouri voters to allow statewide retail and digital sports betting would be a prize. Should voters approve Amendment 2, Missouri would be the only US state in 2024 to approve a statewide gambling expansion.
The Missouri Gaming Commission last weekend said it interprets the constitutional amendment to mean that each brick-and-mortar casino location will be eligible for a digital betting licence. The interpretation means companies like Caesars and Penn Entertainment will each get up to three licences. Each company operates three brick-and-mortar locations in Missouri.
In Arkansas, Missouri and Virginia, the fate of a casino licence hangs in the balance. In Maryland, lawmakers will be taking the temperature in one town and use that information to determine if a casino may be placed there. And in Colorado, voters will be asked to decide if the state can funnel more than $29 million (£22.3 million/€26.6 million) in gambling tax revenue to state water projects.
Here’s a look at each proposal.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, Issue 2 is unique – it is a proposal that would take away an existing casino licence. The $30 million campaigns for and against the proposal have made it the richest in state history.
Should Issue 2 pass, a licence designated for Pope County – which voters approved in 2018 – would be rescinded. The Arkansas Racing Commission awarded the licence to Cherokee Nation Businesses in June. But the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is opposed to a new casino in Russellville and has funded the “yes” campaign.
The Choctaws operate nine gaming locations in Oklahoma, including one in Pocola, right on the Arkansas border. That location is about 90 miles from the proposed Cherokee location. Governor Sarah Huckabee, however, opposes the measure.
Here’s the top-line text of the constitutional amendment:
An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licences and repealing authority to issue a casino licence in Pope County, Arkansas.
A “yes” vote means a voter supports pulling back the licence. A “no” vote means a voter opposes pulling back the licence. For the full text of the amendment, click here.
Colorado
In 2019, Colorado voters approved legal digital sports betting and part of the law allows up to $29 million of sports betting tax revenue to be directed to water projects in the state. The department of revenue projects that tax revenue from wagering will exceed $29 million in the next few years. Voters will have the opportunity to approve Proposition JJ, which will allow for all betting tax revenue (above some existing set costs) to be directed to water projects.
Here’s the top-line text of the proposition:
Without raising taxes, may the state keep and spend all sports betting tax revenue above voter-approved limits to fund water conservation and protection projects instead of refunding revenue to casinos?
A “yes” vote means that voter agrees that the state can keep all betting revenue above $29 million for water projects. A “no” vote means the voter opposes the measure and surplus tax revenue would be returned to operators.
For the full text of the amendment, click here.
Maryland
Voters in Chesapeake Beach, about an hour from Washington, DC, will for the second time offer their thoughts on adding a casino to the town’s landscape. In 2020, local voters said they did not favour a gambling expansion. Since then, retail and digital sports betting have launched in the state. In 2020, voters approved a statewide online wagering initiative.
Lawmakers in Maryland will use the results of the question to guide plans for casino expansion in the state.
Here’s the text of the question:
Do you support the State of Maryland permitting expanded gaming (i.e. additional electronic bingo machines, casino slots, table gaming) to venue(s) in the Town of Chesapeake Beach?
Missouri Amendment 2
This constitutional amendment would allow for statewide mobile sports betting. In addition, it would allow physical sportsbooks at casinos and licences attached to five named professional sports teams. Two stand-alone mobile licences would also be available.
The text of the initiative was previously interpreted by many stakeholders to mean that each casino company would get a single licence. Five companies have multiple casinos in the state.
Here’s the top-line text of Amendment 2:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licences to sports betting operators;
restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21;
allow licence fees prescribed by the Commission and a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for education after expenses incurred by the Commission and required funding of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund; and
allow for the general assembly to enact laws consistent with this amendment?
State governmental entities estimate onetime costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million, and initial licence fee revenue of $11.75 million. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
A “yes” vote means a voter supports the gambling expansion and a “no” vote means a voter does not.
Here is the full text of the amendment.
Missouri Amendment 5
This constitutional amendment would allow for a new land-based casino licence at Lake of the Ozarks. Bally’s, which already owns a Kansas City casino, has put in a bid for the location. If the amendment is approved, others may bid as well. Missouri currently has 13 licensed casinos and all are required to be on a body of water. Currently, all the casinos are on the Mississippi or Missouri rivers.
Here is the top-line text of Amendment 5:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat licence to operate on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam;
require the prescribed location shall include artificial spaces that contain water and are within 500 feet of the 100-year base flood elevation as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
require all state revenues derived from the issuance of the gambling boat licence shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programmes in public institutions of elementary education?
State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
A “yes” vote would mean that a voter is in support of adding a new casino. A “no” vote would mean a voter is opposed.
Here is the full text of the amendment.
Virginia
Four years after voters approved statewide digital sports betting and five physical casinos, those in Petersburg will get a chance to decide if they want a casino. Richmond voters twice declined to approve a casino in their city, which was named in the original law. Voters in Petersburg on Tuesday (5 November) will vote on whether or not to issue The Cordish Companies’ Live! Casino a licence. State lawmakers in February voted to take the proposed Richmond casino off the list of eligible cities.
Casinos in Bristol (Hard Rock), Danville (Caesars) and Portsmouth (Rivers) have opened. Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey tribe late last week broke ground on a $750 million casino in Norfolk. It is scheduled to open in late 2027.
Only voters in Petersburg will vote on this issue.
Here is the text of the proposal:
Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in Petersburg, Virginia located on an approximately 92.5-acre development site located off lnterstate-95 at Wagner Road along Brassfield Parkway in the City of Petersburg as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?
A “yes” vote means that a voter supports putting a casino in Petersburg. A “no” vote means a voter does not.
