Missouri’s newly launched sports activities betting market generated intense early exercise in December 2025, producing greater than half a billion {dollars} in wagers throughout its first full month of authorized operation. Despite the excessive quantity of betting, the state collected solely a modest quantity in wagering taxes, as promotional incentives and different deductions outweighed operator income through the rollout interval.
Sports betting formally started statewide on December 1, 2025, following a slender voter approval of a constitutional modification in November 2024. The Missouri Gaming Commission’s first Sports Wagering Revenue Detail Report gives an in depth image of how the market carried out throughout its opening month, capturing wagering quantity, payouts, deductions, and tax outcomes throughout licensed platforms.
Heavy Betting Volume Defines the Opening Month
Between December 1 and December 31, bettors in Missouri wagered simply over $543 million on sporting occasions. More than 99% of that exercise occurred on-line, with cell sportsbooks dealing with roughly $538.9 million, whereas retail places accounted for simply over $4 million. The report additionally signifies that the quantity of exercise included greater than 25 million particular person bets, underscoring the size of early participation.
FanDuel emerged as the biggest cell sportsbook through the launch interval, recording roughly $212 million in wagers and controlling near 40% of the cell market. DraftKings adopted with roughly $195 million in bets. Among retail sportsbooks, Ameristar Casino in St. Charles reported the best deal with, at round $827,000.
The scale of wagering surpassed some early expectations, notably on condition that the market opened late within the calendar 12 months and through a interval when many Missouri bettors had already been putting authorized bets throughout state traces in Kansas or Illinois.
While betting exercise was sturdy, sportsbooks collectively reported a detrimental taxable gross income for December. Operators paid out practically $438 million in winnings and spent greater than $125 million on promotional free-play bets and different buyer incentives. When extra deductions resembling voided or canceled wagers have been included, complete deductions reached roughly $564 million.
As a consequence, sportsbooks reported a mixed detrimental income of about $20.8 million for the month. With no constructive internet income to tax, Missouri collected simply $521,220 in sports activities wagering taxes, equal to far lower than one-tenth of 1 p.c of the whole quantity wagered.
The Missouri Gaming Commission additionally acquired practically $7.5 million from preliminary license charges tied to the issuance of 16 retail and on-line licenses. Two of these licenses went to online-only operators, whereas the remaining licenses have been related to casinos, sports activities venues, or skilled groups.
“The license-fee total reflects the fact that a majority of the licenses issued at launch are five-year licenses,” Mike Leara, the manager director of the gaming fee, mentioned in a information launch. “These figures also reflect a market in its early stages, including the impact of significant promotional deductions that are customary during initial rollout.”
Lawmakers Question Education Funding Expectations
The small tax return to the state has drawn criticism from some lawmakers, notably given marketing campaign messaging that promoted sports activities betting as a funding supply for schooling. State Rep. Dirk Deaton described the early income figures as disappointing and mentioned the construction of the modification restricted the state’s potential to seize significant tax earnings.
“We might as well have just made them tax free at this point,” Deaton mentioned.
State Sen. Rusty Black additionally questioned how shortly schooling funding would materialize, noting that constitutional constraints forestall lawmakers from simply adjusting the tax construction. “Sports gaming will probably provide $100 million to education total, as long as I don’t die in the next 10 years,” Black mentioned.
Under the Missouri Constitution, the primary $5 million in annual sports activities betting tax income is earmarked for the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund, with remaining funds designated primarily for public schooling. Because December’s tax consumption fell nicely beneath that threshold, no funds have been directed to colleges through the launch month.
Industry representatives and analysts have described the early outcomes as typical for a brand new market. Christopher Boan of GuessMissouri.com mentioned, “This early performance shows that Missouri bettors were eager for a regulated marketplace. If engagement levels hold steady and operators continue investing in the market, Missouri will be well-positioned to cultivate a thriving sports wagering ecosystem.”
Others cautioned in opposition to anticipating sports activities betting to meaningfully alter state funds. “Sports betting isn’t going to be a panacea for Missouri’s budget,” Ryan Butler, senior editor for Covers, mentioned. “Even at its best, it’s just a small fraction of the overall budget.”
