Sports betting in Missouri to launch in December

The number of states that have legalized sports betting will increase by one to 39 by the end of the year. Missouri is set to launch legal sports betting on December 1, following the passage of Amendment 2 by voters in November 2024.

The Missouri Gaming Commission announced that December 1 is the official launch date for sports betting in Missouri, after voters approved the measure in November 2024. The sports betting rollout in the Show Me state will include both online and in-person wagering for individuals aged 21 and older. The regulatory framework allows up to 14 online sportsbook licenses, with six distributed to state casinos, six to major professional sports teams (including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis City SC, and Kansas City Current), and two “untethered” online-only licenses.

Companies expected to launch right at the start in Missouri include DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG), BetMGM (NYSE:MGM) (OTCPK:GMVHF) (partnering with Century Casinos), FanDuel (NYSE:FLUT), bet365, ESPN BET (PENN), Caesars (CZR), Bally Bet (BALY), and Fanatics (FANA). Retail sportsbooks will be available at participating casinos and near team stadiums.

The Missouri launch has an interesting aspect in that the tax rate will be lower than that seen in neighboring states Illinois and Iowa, which could boost cross-border traffic.

The states in the U.S. that have not approved sports betting are Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.