The sports media knows the benefits of sports betting being legalized in a state. Plenty of radio stations and television networks have enjoyed major revenue gains as sportsbooks flood the market with advertising. Teams are noticing that too, which is why the Kansas City Royals are ready to advocate for fans that want to gamble.
The team released a statement on Tuesday saying that it wants Missouri lawmakers to begin those conversations again.
“The Kansas City Royals are aligned with the coalition of professional sports franchises across the state and share the same frustration when it comes to the lack of progress in Jefferson City,” the statement from Adam Sachs reads. “We are open to considering a joint initiative petition campaign at some point soon.”
Sachs is the team’s Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer.
Missouri has teams in three of the four major North American sports leagues. It is also home to MLS franchises in both Kansas City and St. Louis.
It is the St. Louis Cardinals that have been leading the charge. Team President Bill DeWitt has been vocal about wanting to see the state make serious moves to legalize the practice. Earlier this month, he told KCTV that mobile betting is important to engage a new generation of fans.
“Younger fans tend to gravitate towards the interactive phone betting,” he said. “If you make it legal, we can regulate and tax this business, right now, it’s a free for all.”
The Royals may have ulterior motives for joining the fight. They have made their intentions to build a new ballpark in downtown Kansas City known. Plenty of other teams have included physical sportsbooks inside of new stadium plans or added sportsbooks to existing stadiums. If Missouri were to legalize sports betting, it would create a new revenue stream for the ballpark when it opens.
