After years of legislative gridlock, sports betting is finally a reality - with residents of the Show-Me State now able to place legal wagers.
The market is projected to generate roughly $4 billion in handle in its first year, as eight operators took part in the Dec. 1 launch. Here’s everything you need to know about Missouri’s path to legalization, the latest news following the rollout, and how bettors can take advantage.
📰 What happened in Missouri?
After years of false starts, voters narrowly approved a ballot measure in November 2024 - passing by just 2,961 votes - to legalize online and retail sports betting in Missouri.
Regulators opened applications in May, finalized the rules in July, and licensed a competitive field of operators that includes DraftKings, FanDuel, Circa, BetMGM, Fanatics, and theScore Bet (formerly ESPN BET). Legal wagering officially began Dec. 1 at 12:01 a.m. CT, and the early returns are promising.
Missouri does not currently have in-stadium sportsbooks, but bettors have access to mobile apps statewide as well as retail books at select casinos.
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🔢 Key sports betting facts & figures
| Category | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | Dec. 1, 2025 (12:01 a.m. CT) | Missouri Gaming Commission |
| Tax Rate | 10% wagering tax funding education | Covers (May 15, 2025) |
| Promo Spend | $100M+ combined (FanDuel & DraftKings) | Covers (Aug. 19, 2025) |
| Projected Year 1 Handle | ~ $4B | Covers (Nov. 20, 2025) |
| Launch-Day Operators | DraftKings, FanDuel, Circa, BetMGM, Fanatics, ESPN BET + more | Covers (various links) |
| In-Stadium Sportsbooks | Not permitted - mobile & retail only | Covers (Sept. 23, 2025) |
| Bills | SB 852, SB 824 | Missouri Senate (SB 852 | SB 824) |
💰What Missouri bettors should expect
- 💰 Big Early Promos: Expect bonus bets and deposit matches - but always read the fine print.
- 📱 Mobile-First Market: Stadium betting won’t be allowed; download apps and enable geo-location.
- 📊 Competitive Lines: Circa’s low-hold model should force sharper pricing across the market.
🔎 What’s different about Missouri?
Why this market isn’t cookie-cutter:
- No in-stadium books: It’s mobile + retail casino only, so plan to bet on your phone even when you’re at the game.
- Low-hold competition: Circa’s competitive pricing tends to lead to more user-friendly odds on moneylines/totals versus typical new-state launches.
- Border unwind: As Missourians stop crossing into Kansas, expect sharper pricing along the KC corridor and fewer “tourist” promos on the border.
💵 Missouri betting revenue & tax at a glance
Missouri taxes sportsbook revenue at 10%, with proceeds primarily earmarked for education; this rate is lower than the national average. With a projected $4B handle in Year 1, even small changes in hold % swing funding by millions:
| Hold | Gross Gaming Revenue | Tax Intake |
|---|---|---|
| 6% | $204M | $20.4M |
| 7% | $238M | $23.8M |
| 8% | $272M | $27.2M |
🕒 Missouri betting highlights
Prefer the 60-second version? This rapid timeline hits the turning points - from the razor-thin vote to the Dec. 1 go-live - with one-line context for each.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 1, 2025 | Missouri sports betting goes live. |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | Bettors begin preregistering with sportsbooks ahead of launch. |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | Missouri Gaming Commission confirms launch time; sportsbooks go live at 12:01 a.m. CT Dec. 1, giving bettors a full month of NFL & NBA action. |
| Aug. 15, 2025 | DraftKings & Circa win untethered licenses, allowing statewide mobile betting without a casino partner - a huge win for Circa. |
| May 15, 2025 | License applications open and 10% tax rate confirmed, primarily funding Missouri education initiatives. |
| Dec. 6, 2024 | Election officials certify ballot measure results; legalization passes by just 2,961 votes. |
| Nov. 5, 2024 | Missouri voters approve the ballot measure, paving the way for up to 14 operators to launch legal wagering. |
| May 2, 2024 | Pro sports coalition submits 300,000+ signatures to place sports betting on the November ballot. |
Want the receipts and deeper links? The full timeline below tracks every major move, with source articles and cross-links to the sections you’ll care about next.
📅 Full Missouri betting timeline
- Dec. 3, 2025: Missouri regulators laud the state's "quiet" rollout.
- Dec. 3, 2025: A geolocation company releases data on Missouri sports betting’s "remarkable" first 24 hours.
- Dec. 1, 2025: Missouri sports betting officially launches. Blues and parlays are among the first bets placed; see our in-person breakdown.
- Nov. 26, 2025: Underdog pulls its license application, leaving eight sportsbooks for the launch. The Royals look for a new sports betting partner.
- Nov. 17, 2025: Preregistration opens for sports bettors.
- Nov. 11, 2025: theScore Bet replaces ESPN BET ahead of launch after PENN's deal with Disney collapses.
- Sept. 30, 2025: Underdog gains Missouri sports betting access through MLB's Kansas City Royals.
- Sept. 23, 2025: Missouri betting will begin without stadium sportsbooks; see mobile-first tips.
- Sept. 23, 2025: Dec. 1 launch threatens Kansas border handle; context in Key Facts.
- Sept. 16, 2025: Launch time confirmed – books can take bets at 12:01 a.m. CT Dec. 1; prep via launch-week checklist.
- Sept. 9, 2025: ESPN BET becomes at least the ninth applicant – see application deadline update.
- Aug. 28, 2025: Regulators confirm no legal wagers during the 2025 college football regular season; see Highlights.
- Aug. 25, 2025: Fanatics secures access via Boyd Gaming – retail + online rights.
- Aug. 19, 2025: Circa announces low-hold, sharp-friendly model – menu details; see Bettor Guidance.
- Aug. 15, 2025: DraftKings & Circa win “untethered” licenses – announcement; also reaction.
- July 3, 2025: Final rules approved, clearing the path to launch.
- May 15, 2025: Applications open + 10% tax confirmed; launch date set: Dec. 1.
- Dec. 6, 2024: Ballot results certified – measure passes by 2,961 votes; certification story.
- Nov. 5, 2024: Voters approve the sports betting ballot measure.
- Sept.–Oct. 2024: Campaign cash surges – DraftKings +$5M, FanDuel/Caesars donations, $4M opposition spend.
- May 2, 2024: Pro-sports coalition submits signatures – submission story; ballot explainer: what voters need to know.
- Feb. 2, 2024: HB 2331 clears committee – committee report; bill text: HB 2331.
- Jan. 4, 2024: Lawmakers introduce two sports betting bills (SB 852 • text; SB 824 • text).
Missouri's competitive market and tax rates could put pressure on other sports betting states. Geoff Zochodne explains.
✅ Market rules to check
Before you place your bets, confirm these with your sportsbook’s house rules and the MGC:
-
College markets: Any restrictions on in-state schools or specific props.
-
Prop limits: Player-prop availability and max bet caps.
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Cash-out/void rules: How early payout, overtime, and abandoned events are handled.
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Offer eligibility: Whether pre-reg bonuses stack with early promos.
❓ Missouri betting FAQ
Has sports betting officially launched?
Yes! Sports betting launched at 12:01 a.m. CT on Dec. 1, 2025, with both mobile apps and retail casino sportsbooks going live statewide. See the Highlights Timeline for key dates.
Can I place bets inside stadiums and arenas?
No. Missouri does not have in-stadium sportsbooks in place. Bettors can wager via mobile apps anywhere in the state (when geo-located) or at retail casino sportsbooks. See What Bettors Should Expect for mobile-first tips.
How many sportsbooks are available?
Eight operators are accepting wagers - DraftKings, FanDuel, Circa, BetMGM, Fanatics, theScore Bet, Caesars Sportsbook, and bet365 - with additional brands potentially joining in the future.
What sports can I bet on in Missouri?
You can wager on all major professional and college sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, etc.). Specific market or prop restrictions, if any, will be outlined by the Missouri Gaming Commission and individual sportsbooks.
What is the tax rate, and where does the money go?
Missouri taxes sportsbook revenue at 10%. Note that this is not the tax rate players pay on bets or winnings; rather, it's what the sportsbooks funnel to the state government. The law directs most proceeds to education programs across the state. See the Key Facts & Figures section for a quick reference.
