Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced on Tuesday that initiative petitions calling for the state’s minimum wage to be raised to $15 an hour and for the legalization of sports betting have garnered a sufficient number of valid signatures from registered voters to appear on the general election ballot. The initiatives will need to win approval from a majority of voters in order to be added to the state constitution.
These proposals will be listed on the ballot alongside candidates running for various top offices, such as governor, U.S. Senate, and state legislature.
The sports betting initiative has received substantial funding from the parent companies of DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as the endorsement of Missouri’s six professional sports teams. These teams would oversee on-site betting operations and advertising near their stadiums and arenas.
Currently, thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have some form of sports wagering, a trend that has accelerated since the U.S. Supreme Court greenlit the practice in 2018. After facing obstacles in the state Senate, Missouri sports teams chose to pursue the initiative process to legalize sports betting.
“Missouri is now just one step away from joining most other states in legalizing sports betting and being able to provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms,” stated St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III on Tuesday.
The minimum wage proposal would raise Missouri’s current rate of $12.30 an hour to $13.75 per hour by 2025 and $15 per hour by 2026, with subsequent adjustments for inflation. Additionally, it would mandate that employers offer paid sick leave.