Missouri is moving towards launching a regulated sports betting market, with the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) recently submitting a proposed set of regulations to Governor Mike Kehoe's office. After a statewide voting initiative passed in November, Missouri is set to issue licenses and begin operations by mid-2025, although the final deadline allowed by the regulations is December 1, 2025.
Missouri voters narrowly approved the legalization of sports betting in the November 2024 elections, becoming the 39th state to do so. Since then, state regulators have been working hard to finalize operational details. The MGC submitted preliminary rules to the governor's office, marking an important milestone in the regulatory process.
MGC Chair Jan Zimmerman, reported by KSHB 41 Kansas City, confirmed that the commission is still committed to issuing licenses by June 2025, acknowledging that the timeline remains ambitious. She noted that the process is very extensive, requiring thorough background checks, financial disclosures, and compliance verifications of applicants. According to Zimmerman, MGC staff have been tirelessly working, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure the market can launch on schedule.
License Structure and Betting Options
The regulatory framework allows for up to 14 online sports betting licenses. Missouri's 13 physical casinos will have the opportunity to apply for licenses to operate both retail and online sports betting. Additionally, the law establishes designated sports betting zones around the home venues of the state's six professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals. Two additional licenses unrelated to casinos will also be issued, but the competition for these remains open.
Although many expect major operators like DraftKings and FanDuel to receive unrestricted licenses, Zimmerman emphasized that the selection process will be competitive and structured, rather than automatically favoring leading brands. According to Fox4KC, she suggested using a point system or another transparent method to determine the winners.
Impact on Missouri Residents
Currently, Missouri sports fans still have to cross into neighboring Kansas to legally place bets. Since 2022, sports betting has been legalized in Kansas, leading to a significant number of Missouri residents crossing the state line to wager. Customers at bars and restaurants near the Kansas border have expressed frustration with the wait, and some hope that Missouri's launch will soon eliminate the need to travel for legal betting.
Although the regulatory process is advancing, any adjustments to Missouri's sports betting framework, including tax rates or specific betting restrictions, will require another statewide vote, as the initiative was passed as a constitutional amendment. For now, Missouri bettors must wait until at least mid-2025 to legally place bets within the state.
