New Opposition to Missouri Legal Betting Initiative
The St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee Oct. 29 announced that it opposes Amendment 2, the legal wagering initiative, but supports Amendment 5, which would add a new casino license in the state. The sports betting initiative has the support of more than 25 local politicians, all of the state’s professional sports teams and the two biggest newspapers in the state. But according to Spectrum News, the committee opposes it because operators will be allowed to deduct promotional play, which would ultimately cut into state tax revenue.
Attorney General candidate Elad Gross also said he would oppose the measure because he says it does not provide enough funding for problem and responsible gaming initiatives.
The fate of the initiative is unclear. The most recent polling released in September showed 52 percent in favor, 25 percent opposed and 22 percent undecided. While Caesars has backed down on its “no” on Amendment 2 contributions in Missouri earlier this month, FanDuel Oct. 24 added another $4.6 million in support of the legal sports betting initiative.
FanDuel’s latest deposit brings the total contributions to the “Winning for Missouri Education” campaign to $40.7 million, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records. That total alone would make the campaign the priciest in Missouri history. Before deciding to “focus our efforts on grassroots outreach and community conversations” and pulling $1 million worth of scheduled television advertising earlier this month, Caesars had funded the “no” campaign with more than $14 million.
Texas Poised for Change on Gambling? Probably Not
Casino Reports this week did a deep dive into key Texas lawmakers that could influence the future of gambling in the state. The result? The vast majority of legislators who previously opposed legal gambling will remain in place and have no compelling reason to switch sides.
While many received contributions from Las Vegas Sands and other gambling operators in the past, those donations do not seem to have swayed those staunchly against legal gambling.
The second-biggest state in the union by population, gambling companies are itching to get into the state. But given that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick – also the president of the Senate – doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, it appears change is not in the air. Patrick has declined to call any gambling bills for a floor vote in previous sessions.
The Texas Legislature meets only in odd years. It is scheduled to run Jan. 14-June 2. Expect that four-and-a-half months to be rich in political drama.
Third Guilty Plea in Porter NBA Betting Scandal
Mahmud Mollah Oct. 30 pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy after placing three bets on then two-way NBA player Jontay Porter that would have won him $1 million. Mollah is one of four people, including Porter, involved in a betting scandal that involved Porter removing himself from games early so others could win proposition bets.
Mollah pleaded in the U.S. District Court for the /Eastern District of New York. Porter and Long Phi Pham previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. Mollah is scheduled to be sentenced May 2, 2025 and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Porter, who was banned from the NBA for life in April, stood to get a share of the winnings, which would have been used to pay off debt he owed the co-conspirators. Porter left games on Jan. 26 and March 20 early. Unusually big bets on both games were flagged by DraftKings, resulting in the investigation that uncovered the scandal.
Maynard Appointed Permanent MGC Chair
Interim Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) chair Jordan Maynard was appointed to a permanent role by the state’s governor on Oct. 28. Maynard has been serving as the interim chair since former MGC chief Cathy Judd-Stein retired from public service in March. Gov. Maura Healy also appointed former Melrose mayor Paul Brodeur as the agency’s fifth commissioner, according to a press release. The MGC had been down a commissioner since Judd-Stein’s retirement.
“He has proven to be a consensus builder who has a deep understanding of the agency and strives to do what’s best for the people of Massachusetts,” Healy said via press release.
