Betting Big

Good morning STL and happy Thursday! Fall officially begins this Sunday and the signs are all there (except the temperatures but those are coming soon). We’ve got college football, the NFL, and pumpkin spice on all of the coffee shop menus. Time to start unpacking the flannels and boots and dialing in the chili recipe.

WEATHER AND SPORTS

AROUND TOWN
Legalized sports betting in MO heads to the ballot in November

In November, Missourians will finally get the chance to decide if sports betting will be allowed in the state. If passed, Missouri will join 38 other states + DC (including IL and KS) in legalizing some form of sports betting. This might also be a win for the environment since Missouri residents can bet from the comfort of their own couch instead of making special trips to drive across state lines to IL or KS to place their bets. If passed, the gaming commission has until December 1 of next year to allow betting.

Fun fact: 8 states border Missouri (pat on the back if you can name all 8…), and all of them allow sports betting except for Oklahoma.

Some quick notes:

• Will it add to MO tax revenue and recapture revenue being generated in Illinois and Kansas? Yes.

• Do people in Missouri presently bet on sports illegally? Yes.

• Do people in Missouri presently bet on sports legally by driving across state lines to neighboring states? Yes.

• Is gambling addictive? Yes.

• In terms of net financial gains, does this primarily benefit the sports betting companies compared to the state of MO and the people betting? Yes.

• Will the increase in tax revenue that is directed towards schools actually increase school budgets? Probably not— explained more below…

• Is legalizing sports betting inevitable? Probably.

Where does the tax revenue go?

Per the amendment, the majority of the revenue generated from sports betting will be earmarked for public schools and higher education. However, you have to understand how the schools get their money in the first place. In a typical state government, schools are primarily funded from a “general fund”. This general fund funds all sorts of things like police, fire, maintenance, roads, etc. Think of it like a giant slush fund with no restrictions on what the money can be spent on.

The tax revenue from sports betting will go into a “special fund” where the money can ONLY be spent on schools. Great, right. Well here’s the secret: now that the schools have an additional funding source, the state can spend less on schools from their “general fund” and redirect that money other places. Think about when you were younger before you had a job. You probably bummed cash from your parents to go to the mall on the weekends and hang out with your friends. Then, when you finally did get a job and started making your own money, did your parents still give you the cash on the weekend?

Will it pass?

Odds are looking good. Initial polls of voters are showing greater than 50% of respondents in favor, with the other portions being split between no and not sure. If you’re one of the undecided, Draft Kings and Fan Duel would love to sway you. Since January, they’ve parlayed an estimated $16.5M into the Missouri sports betting campaign.

Quick hitters

• STL area police, Club Fitness, and other businesses and organizations have cut ties with 1st Phorm, a local supplement and fitness company over comments made by 1st Phorm co-founder Andy Frisella on his podcast. Andy said that female police officers make him feel emasculated, and if it wasn’t for their badge or gun, you could, “…punch a hole through their f****** face…”.

• A Florissant police officer is accused of taking women’s phones during traffic stops, scrolling through their pictures in his car, then taking a picture of their screen with his phone of any “intimate photographs” he found. The FBI is also now involved since one of those women was underage.

• BarK doubled their annual fees from $250/year to $500/year after their financial woes were made public earlier this month. Apparently those at the old $250/year price are grandfathered in and can keep paying the lower rate.

• WashU buys Fontbonne campus for $32M. Fontbonne will close after 2025 and WashU will add to its already massive real estate portfolio.

WEEKEND WONDERS
What to do this week

Thursday

🎶 STL Symphony in Forest Park: Join the STL Symphony as they kick off their 24/25 season with their annual concert on Art Hill in Forest Park. Bring your drinks, snacks, and chairs and enjoy an STL tradition.

🎸 The Used and Story of the Year at STL Music Park: Channel your inner-emo and rewind the time back to high school (or middle school) because The Used and Story of the Year are ready to drown you in hits from the early 2000s. Bonus points if you assemble an all black outfit and die your hair red.

Friday

🎈 Balloon Glow at Forest Park: Don’t miss one of the hottest annual events of the year! The night before the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, over 60 hot air balloons inflate and tether in place as the balloons glow in the night like giant fireflies. The event is free to attend and an STL favorite.

🏒 Blues and Brews at AB: If you’re looking to get your hockey fix before the season starts, check out Blues and Brews at AB. Charles Glen’s band will be playing and Blues’ players will be appearing. Tickets are $20 and include a free Bud Light.

Saturday

🎈 Great Forest Park Balloon Race at Forest Park: If you didn’t get enough hot air balloon action on Friday night, head back to Forest Park on Saturday during the day to watch the balloons take off. The official launch window is between 4:30pm and 6pm so get there early to grab parking and a spot to watch.

🧑‍🌾 Fall Farm Festival at The Magic House: Families are invited to a fun-filled day on the farm where kids can meet with local farmers to understand where their food comes from, sit on real tractors, learn about agriculture, and pet some farm animals! Regular admission gets you in from 10am to 2pm.

Sunday

🔥 STL Hispanic Festival at Soulard Market: Taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the STL Hispanic Festival is back for another year. Of course there will be music, dancing, and food. Muy bien!

🍁 Fall Pop-up Market at 9 Mile Garden: Shop 25+ small and local businesses. There will be fall themed beers and cocktails with live music by the Two man Dan Band. Football will be on the big screen.

ARCHWAY ARCADE
Poll question of the week

Winner of last week’s poll question:

Honey Crisp, also the state fruit of Minnesota, was voted the best apple variety followed by Fuji. The Honey Crisp is a relatively new variety. The first HC apples were delivered to a grocery store in 1997.

Did you know?

The Ruins by the pond at Tower Grove Park are not actually ancient ruins, and are instead remnants of the Lindell Hotel which burned down in 1867. When the hotel burned down, it was the largest hotel in America at the time.

Trivia

Which river runs underground beneath Forest Park?

SHARING IS CARING
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Trivia Answer: The River des Peres used to run through Forest Park, but during the 1904 World’s Fair, due to its foul smell (much of the city’s sewage was pumped into the river) and degraded appearance, it was decided to disguise the river by re-routing it and running it through enclosed wooden channels. Around 10 years later, the river flooded, and it was decided to completely bury the portion of the river that flowed through the park in large diameter concrete tunnels where it still runs today.