2024 Ballot Results: Voters Shaped the Future of US Gambling

• Arkansas, Colorado, and Minnesota approved all of their gambling measures.
• While Missouri approved sports betting, another gambling bill failed to pass.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Election Day 2024, a few states across the US had gambling measures on their ballots. Some focused on taxes or funding, others looked toward approval or expansion of industries.

Either way the dice rolled, the voters impacted US gambling laws with their say. Here’s a summary of how every gambling measure in 2024 played out.

Arkansas

Arkansas had two measures on their ballots – Issue 1 and Issue 2 by name.

Arkansas voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 1, with 89.6% voting in favor. This amendment will allow the state to use lottery funds to provide scholarships for public and private vocational and technical schools, broadening educational funding options.

• Result: Passed (Yes: 1,017,963; No: 118,072; 97% reported)

The other amendment required local voter approval for casinos. Effectively repealing the authorization for a casino in Pope County, 55.8% of voters were in favor.

• Result: Passed (Yes: 631,417; No: 500,464; 96% reported)

Colorado

In Colorado, Proposition JJ was decisively passed. This removed the revenue cap on sports betting, allowing the state to keep sports betting revenue beyond the previous $29 million cap. The additional funds will be directed to water projects, aligning gambling revenues with the original environmental goals approved in 2020 (Proposition DD).

• Result: Passed (Yes: 1,847,361; No: 587,824; 72% reported)

Minnesota

Another measure focused on lottery revenue, Minnesota Amendment 1 extends its environmental trust fund initiative with 77.5% support. This ensures that lottery revenues continue to support conservation projects until 2050. The amendment also increases the annual spending allowed from the fund.

• Result: Passed (Yes: 2,519,554; No: 527,821; 99% reported)

Missouri

Another gambling state with two measures, Missouri both approved and voted against a gambling measure. The most notable is Missouri Amendment 2, which narrowly passed, with 50.1% support. The new law will legalize sports betting for those over 21, imposing a 10% tax on revenues to support education and gambling addiction programs.

• Result: Passed (Yes: 1,469,581; No: 1,462,665; 98% reported)

But Missouri voters rejected the proposal to build a new casino on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks. The measure, intended to fund early childhood literacy, failed with 52.4% voting against it.

• Result: Failed (No: 1,510,697; Yes: 1,372,413; 99% reported)

Overall, these results reflect voters’ perspectives on legal US gambling expansions. A clear trend toward supporting educational funding and environmental initiatives through gambling revenues is evident. However, local controls and specific casino locations remain contentious in some regions.