With Donald Trump decisively winning the U.S. presidential election, the early hours brought a burst of excitement to many. Yet, his victory wasn’t the only major decision American voters made. Across the nation, citizens faced numerous high-stakes issues—from Senate and House races to pivotal questions about reproductive rights and, in several key states, decisions about gambling expansion.
The gambling industry, naturally, had its eye on several ballots where voters were set to decide on sports betting and online gaming reforms.
Missouri’s Major Move
One of the biggest pieces of gambling news this election came from Missouri. Voters in the “Show-Me” state narrowly passed Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2, paving the way for both retail and online sports betting. By a slim margin of around 13,000 votes, citizens approved a system allowing 20 retail betting sites and 22 sports betting platforms, with licenses split between local casinos, professional sports teams, and standalone online operators.
Missouri’s favorable 10 percent tax rate on sports betting revenue is expected to generate substantial funds for education and responsible gambling programs. With new laws set to take effect 30 days post-election, legal sports betting could be live in Missouri by early December.
Not all measures passed, however. Voters rejected Amendment 5, which would have authorized a new riverboat casino on the Osage River, with 52 percent voting against it.
Virginia’s New Casino Approval
Virginia also saw significant movement. Voters in Petersburg overwhelmingly approved the construction of a new casino, making it the fifth land-based casino in the state. The new project, led by Cordish Group, is anticipated to be a $1.4 billion investment, a testament to Petersburg’s enthusiasm, with 81 percent of voters backing the plan.
The state originally approved five casinos in 2020, but Richmond’s repeated rejections shifted the opportunity to Petersburg. Cordish Group, known for its Live! Casinos in several states, has historically opposed online gaming, so their presence in Virginia could influence the state’s iGaming landscape.
Arkansas’ Paradox
Arkansas presented a unique case with Issue 2, which initially seemed like a win for gambling enthusiasts. However, instead of expanding gaming, Issue 2 actually revoked prior approval for a new casino in Pope County. Going forward, any new casinos in Arkansas will require direct approval from local voters.
Colorado’s Proposition JJ
Colorado voters weighed in on Proposition JJ, a measure that would redirect gambling tax revenue. Since legalizing sports betting in 2019, Colorado has used a portion of its tax revenue for water conservation efforts. Proposition JJ asked voters to allow the state to keep and use all gambling taxes for environmental projects, instead of issuing refunds to casinos.
With over 75 percent of voters in favor, the initiative passed, giving a boost to Colorado’s conservation programs without raising new taxes.
Looking Ahead
As final counts wrap up, the gambling industry awaits results from Virginia, Arkansas, and Colorado to understand the full impact of this election on state-level gambling reforms. For now, Trump’s win may have dominated headlines, but the shifts in gambling laws across the nation are setting up an equally transformative future in the industry.
