How Voters Decided on Sports Issues in This Year’s Elections

Sports-related issues appeared on ballots across the country as voters went to the polls yesterday. The results from this election continue to shape sports impact on public policy and management of public resources.

Sports Betting

Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018[1], most states have legalized sports betting either through legislation or voter referenda. After numerous legislative attempts failed, professional sports teams in Missouri launched an initiative to place the question of whether to legalize sports betting in front of the voters.[2] As the election neared, sports betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings spent $41 million advocating for the proposal, while casinos spent $14 million in opposition.[3] The amendment to the Missouri Constitution narrowly passed, with 50.1% voting yes and 49.9% voting no.[4] Sports betting will now be legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. However, Texas and California are among the states that still do not have legalized sports betting, leaving large markets yet untapped.[5]

In Colorado, sports betting has been legal since 2019. Since then, betting operators have been subject to a 10% tax used to fund water-related projects that support farms and ranches, fish habitats, recreational activities, and conservation plans. However, the tax was capped at $29 million based on projections anticipating an average of $16 million in annual revenue over the first 5 years.[6] Because the cap was reached last year, the state returned the excess tax collected to the betting operators.[7] On Tuesday, an overwhelming 76% of voters eliminated the $29 million limit on the tax, which will result in additional funding for the state’s water projects.[8]

Sports Venues

Whether the Chicago Bears should build a new stadium — and the amount of public funding that should be provided — has been a controversial topic ahead of their 2033 lease expiration.[9] The Bears’ $4.6 billion proposal calls for $2.3 billion in public financing to support infrastructure improvements and the stadium.[10] Former Illinois governor Pat Quinn petitioned his neighbors to get a non-binding question onto Chicago ballots.[11] In Chicago’s 29th Ward, voters in Precincts 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, and 17 were asked as an Advisory Question: “Shall the people of Chicago provide any taxpayer subsidy to the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium?”[12] ‘No’ received an overwhelming 79% of the vote compared to the 21% of votes for ‘yes.’[13] Because the proposal in Chicago is non-binding, it will be up to the politicians whether they listen to their constituents or forge ahead with providing public funding. Back in April 2024, voters in Missouri rejected a proposal for a sales tax to fund a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs.[14] These initiatives show that public sentiment may be shifting, with more people questioning whether public funds should be used to finance stadiums for professional sports teams.

The decisions voters make on sports-related measures continue to shape the public conversation about balancing sports policy within the broader political arena.

[1] https://ublawsportsforum.com/2024/09/24/the-safe-bet-act-what-you-need-to-know/

[2] https://www.sportico.com/business/sports-betting/2024/missouri-sports-betting-ballot-measure-caesars-draftkings-fanduel-1234803926/

[3] Id.

[4] https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article294503359.html

[5] https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/

[6] Table 1, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/lcs/2019_blue_book_english_for_web.pdf

[7] https://coloradosun.com/2024/11/05/proposition-jj-results-colorado-sports-betting/

[8] Id.

[9] https://frontofficesports.com/bears-4-7-billion-stadium-pitch-caught-in-a-game-of-political-football/

[10] https://www.foxnews.com/media/chicago-bears-told-pay-damn-stadium-proposal-taxpayers-footing-2-billion

[11] https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/11/05/austin-voters-say-city-should-not-pay-for-new-bears-stadium/

[12] https://www.nbcchicago.com/illinois-election-2024/full-list-chicago-referendums-on-the-2024-illinois-election-ballot/3580937/?os=roku…&ref=app