Online and in-person sports betting officially went live in Missouri on Dec. 1 as spelled out in the referendum approved by voters in November 2024.
Amendment 2 allows for sports wagering at the state’s 13 casinos and online wagering at up to 14 mobile operators. The launch began with eight mobile operators:
- bet365 Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Circa Sports
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- theScore Bet (Formally ESPN BET)
Circa CEO Derek Stevens said the sportsbook hopes to make an immediate impact in Missouri.
“Launching in Missouri is a major moment for Circa Sports as we bring our Las Vegas-born philosophy to one of the most passionate sports regions in the country. We’re looking forward to earning the trust of customers across the state and becoming part of Missouri’s growing sports betting landscape.”
Underdog Quits On Eve Of Launch
Sports betting in the Show Me State has suffered some delays along the way, but that’s all in the past now. Though, there was one notable hiccup just before launch.
Underdog Sports had been expected to launch a sportsbook in Missouri, but the company withdrew last week.
The law directs mobile operators to partner with either a Missouri casino or a Missouri-based professional sports team. There were also two “untethered” licenses available, which went to DraftKings and Circa Sports.
FanDuel, which missed out on one of the untethered licenses, partnered with MLS’ St. Louis City soccer club. Other operators have also partnered with teams, including bet365, which announced a deal with MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals earlier this year.
Handle Expected To Reach $1 Billion In 4 Months
The Missouri Gaming Commission is charged with regulating the industry. The amendment sets the tax rate at 10%, with operators paying $500,000 for a license. Player-specific prop bets on games involving Missouri-based colleges are not allowed.
The legal age to place a sports wager 21 and older.
The vast majority of state revenue from the sports betting will go to K-12 and higher education. Ten percent of tax revenue will be sent to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s compulsive gambling fund.
Competing With Neighbors
Missouri is bordered by eight states, seven of which have some form of legal sports betting. Brick-and-mortar casinos brought in a total of $1.88 billion in 2024, generating $450 million in tax revenue for the state. That represented a 2.1% drop from 2023. The number of visitors was down about 4%, according to the American Gaming Association.
The addition of sports betting is expected to reverse the downward trend and keep more gamblers in Missouri.
BetMissouri has projected a handle of $65.7 million in the first week of betting and $262.6 million in December. Sports betting handle is expected to reach $1 billion within four months.
FanDuel and DraftKings have estimated a combined $575 million in revenue over the first five years, which would deliver $57.5 million to the state.
