(*1*)
Sports betting in Missouri is getting into its remaining countdown, with retail and on-line wagering formally scheduled to debut on December 1, 2025. The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) has now obtained a whole lot of purposes from operators, suppliers, and distributors, marking one of many remaining steps earlier than the state’s market opens.
The trade’s framework stems from Amendment 2, which narrowly handed throughout the November 2024 election with 50.05% voter approval. The constitutional modification legalized each in-person and cellular betting, imposed a 10% tax on gross gaming income, and earmarked funds for Okay-12 colleges, greater training, and compulsive playing applications. Despite legalization, wagering couldn’t start till the MGC accomplished licensing and regulatory preparations, which at the moment are nearing completion.
Application Process and Market Structure
The MGC reported it had obtained greater than 1,100 complete purposes from firms linked to sports activities betting operations, together with over 734 filings from operators and suppliers by the September 12 deadline. The flood of paperwork consists of submissions for “key individuals” who maintain greater than a 5% stake in an organization, in addition to a number of personnel-related filings from bigger operators. BetMGM submitted round 300 purposes, Penn Sports Interactive 221, Underdog 181, and bet365 166.
Missouri will enable as much as 21 operator licenses, with two already awarded as “untethered” cellular permits to DraftKings and Circa Sports in August. The different 19 can be tied to both the state’s 13 business casinos or six skilled sports activities groups. Operators in search of tethered entry are placing offers with native companions, reminiscent of FanDuel’s alliance with MLS membership St. Louis CITY SC and bet365’s settlement with the St. Louis Cardinals. Penn Entertainment’s ESPN Bet and Caesars will leverage their present on line casino properties, whereas BetMGM secured entry by means of Century Casinos. Fanatics has partnered with Boyd Gaming for each retail and on-line entry.
Operators Expected on Day One
The preliminary launch lineup contains a sturdy group of nationally acknowledged manufacturers. According to the MGC and a number of stories, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, Fanatics, Penn’s ESPN Bet, Underdog, and Circa Sports are confirmed candidates, with non permanent licenses anticipated by October 22. Online pre-registration for prospects will start November 17.
In complete, Missouri regulation permits 14 cellular platforms and 19 retail sportsbooks. Each skilled sports activities franchise—together with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis CITY SC, and the KC Current—can help one sportsbook “skin,” including to the combo of potential operators. Caesars, Bally’s, and Penn already function casinos within the state, positioning them strongly for retail presence.
Regulatory Timeline and Economic Impact
The MGC has scheduled conferences for September 23–24 the place operators will current their plans and area commissioner questions earlier than remaining approvals. Temporary licenses are anticipated by late October, retaining the December 1 launch date on monitor.
Industry forecasts counsel Missouri may see as much as $4.5 billion in annual wagers and as a lot as $500 million in gross income, producing practically $29 million in tax income underneath the ten% fee. However, some analysts and critics warning that deductions for promotional credit may considerably scale back precise income directed to colleges, echoing considerations raised throughout the Amendment 2 marketing campaign.
Despite debates, the sports activities betting rollout is anticipated to be one of many largest new market launches within the United States in 2025. With most main operators already dedicated and partnerships forming throughout the state’s skilled sports activities panorama, Missouri residents are poised to achieve entry to a wide selection of sportsbooks each on-line and at retail venues when the market goes reside.
Source:
“Missouri Sports Betting Mandatory Launch Date Approaches“, Cleveland.com, September 16, 2025.
