Hours after losing its bid to obtain one of Missouri’s two untethered online sports betting licenses, FanDuel found a partner to gain access to the 39th legal wagering U.S. state.
Key Takeaways
- FanDuel president looks forward to supporting the MLS team and “engaging with the community.”
- The Show-Me State will be FanDuel’s 25th U.S. market when wagering launches Dec. 1.
- DraftKings and upset-bid Circa Sports got the two untethered licenses.
FanDuel announced Friday afternoon that the mobile sportsbook entered an agreement with Major League Soccer team St. Louis City SC to become one of the several operators that will launch sports betting on Dec. 1.
“Missouri is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, and we are thrilled to partner with St. Louis City SC to introduce our industry-leading product to the Show Me State,” Mike Raffensperger, president of sports at FanDuel, said in a press release.
“We look forward to supporting the team and engaging with the community as we bring America's No. 1 Sportsbook to fans across Missouri.”
The Show-Me State will be the Flutter-owned operator’s 25th American market. FanDuel is the top sportsbook by market share and iGaming company in the U.S., generating $1.79 billion in revenue during the second quarter of 2025.
There were only three
FanDuel came up short earlier in the day when the Missouri Gaming Commission announced that the two coveted online-only licenses went to rival DraftKings and popular Las Vegas operator Circa Sports, which currently operates in five states. Those were the only three operators to apply for an untethered license and pleaded their case before the commission on Wednesday.
DraftKings and Circa won’t have to share any revenue or pay fees to a partner. The rest of the Missouri sports betting applicants have to collaborate with a Show-Me State professional team or casino operator to gain access.
FanDuel projected $400 million in annual revenue at the commission meeting. Missouri regulators picking DraftKings was no surprise as it’s the No. 2 market-share leader in the U.S. However, FanDuel’s vast reach and resources made it appear to be a shoo-in, creating quite the upset that Circa landed the other untethered license on Friday.
“Winning one of Missouri’s first two untethered mobile betting licenses is a great honor,” Stevens told Covers on Friday. “We came in as the long shot against national giants like DraftKings and FanDuel, but our licensure approval today proves there’s room for a different kind of operator. Circa Sports is built for bettors, with sharp odds, high limits and a low hold.”
Other partnerships
FanDuel, which combined with DraftKings to contribute nearly $40 million to help get a sports betting initiative placed on last November’s ballot, was guaranteed a spot. It was just about who the partner was going to be, and that didn’t take long.
Fanatics Sportsbook and Underdog have applied but have not named partners. bet365 will gain market access through a previously announced deal with MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals, and the two sides are planning to open a sportsbook near the team’s downtown ballpark.
BetMGM has a partnership with Century Casinos, while ESPN BET, Bally Bet, and Caesars already have land-based branded casinos in Missouri.
Affiliated applicants have until Sept. 12 to complete the process. The gaming commission will issue temporary licenses shortly after that date to give operators, suppliers, and providers time to be compliant and ready for the early December launch.
