Missouri looks to be the 31st state with online sports betting

The landscape of sports and gambling in Missouri is on the brink of a monumental shift. As the Show-Me State prepares to join the ranks of states offering legal sports betting, anticipation builds among enthusiasts and industry stakeholders alike. 

The journey towards legalized sports betting in Missouri has been long and winding, marked by legislative hurdles and public debates. However, with the recent passage of a pivotal ballot initiative, the state is now poised to usher in a new era of regulated wagering on sporting events. The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is currently working on developing comprehensive regulations. Then, following approval, there will be a 30-day period for public comment on the proposed regulations. But, the ballot initiative that legalized sports betting in Missouri stipulates that sportsbooks must launch by December 2025 at the latest. 

The Road to Legalization

Missouri's legislature has grappled with the issue of sports betting for several years. Multiple bills were introduced in various sessions, each attempting to create a framework for licensed and regulated sports wagering in the state. However, these efforts consistently fell short, often due to disagreements over licensing structures, tax rates, and the allocation of revenue. But the most significant hurdle was the debate over whether to allow online betting or restrict wagering to physical locations such as casinos.

After repeated legislative failures, supporters of sports betting in Missouri took a different approach. A coalition of professional sports teams in the state, along with major players in the sports betting industry, launched the "Winning for Missouri Education" ballot initiative. This grassroots campaign aimed to put the question of sports betting legalization directly to the voters. After a hard-fought campaign that saw millions of dollars spent on both sides, the initiative narrowly passed in the November 2024 election.

When will Missouri sportsbooks start taking bets?

Missouri's online sportsbooks could start taking bets as early as June 30, but no official deadline has been determined. It looks like the legislature wants to have sports betting up and running before the NFL season. If they hit their target, it would be just eight months from approval until the first sports bet is placed online. There are 13 riverboat casinos that are looking to get into the mix, and the usual suspects, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics and ESPN Bet are rumored to initially be six of up to 21 online operators. 

DraftKings said as much during its recent earnings call and BetMGM said it would also pursue a Missouri sports betting license during their recent earnings announcement. Missouri's existing casino operators have the inside track to enter the new sports betting market. Penn National Gaming and Boyd Gaming operate several casinos already in Missouri. Eldorado Resorts is now part of Caesars Entertainment and their properties in Missouri could host Caesars Sportsbook locations.