Missouri's sports betting market is about to reach a significant milestone. According to the latest announcement from the state's Gaming Commission, the sports betting operations are expected to officially start on December 1st, with ten operators having submitted their applications for operating licenses, among which DraftKings and Circa have already obtained unrestricted operating licenses.
The Gaming Commission's report indicates that by the application deadline of September 12th, a total of 734 applications from operators and service providers were received. The commission stated that it will continue to accept applications postmarked by September 12th, which means the final number of operators might still increase. These applicants are making final preparations for the market launch on December 1st.
According to the established schedule, the Gaming Commission will issue temporary operating licenses on October 22nd. Operators granted licenses can start accepting user registrations and deposits from November 17th. After completing internal controls and rule requirements, operators will officially open live betting services at midnight on December 1st. This will be the first new sports betting market in the United States since North Carolina launched online sports betting in March 2024.
Among the many applicants, ten operators including Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, Kambi, and Underdog have confirmed their applications. Notably, DraftKings and Circa obtained unrestricted licenses earlier through a competitive bidding process, while FanDuel, despite its leading position in the US sports betting market, did not secure an unrestricted license this time.
The Gaming Commission will hold meetings on September 23rd and 24th to review the application materials, and all applicants must submit detailed information about their internal rules and control systems by September 26th. According to state law, sports betting revenue will be taxed at a rate of 10%.
In terms of market access, operators are actively seeking partnerships. FanDuel announced a partnership with Major League Soccer's St. Louis City team; Bet365 has partnered with Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals, which pushed for the legalization of sports betting in a 2024 referendum; BetMGM has partnered with Century Casinos; and Fanatics has chosen to collaborate with Boyd Gaming, which owns two Ameristar casino venues in Missouri.
Penn Sports Interactive has applied for an ESPN Bet license through its Hollywood Casino and Riverside Casino, while Caesars has submitted its application through its Horseshoe St. Louis Casino. Currently, Underdog and Kambi have not announced their market access partners.
The launch of sports betting in Missouri marks a new development phase for the state's gaming industry, expected to bring new tax revenues and job opportunities to the state.
