Many of the nation’s most prominent sportsbooks have announced Missouri launch plans less than a month ahead of a key application deadline.
- Missouri’s sportsbook market is taking shape ahead of the Sept. 12 application deadline, with a Dec. 1 universal launch date set.
- DraftKings and Circa won the state’s two “untethered” licenses, while FanDuel secured access through a partnership with St. Louis CITY SC.
- Major operators including Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, PENN/ESPN BET, Fanatics, and Underdog have also announced Missouri launch plans.
FanDuel and DraftKings, the U.S. market share leaders by handle and revenue, are among a group of sportsbooks that have earned a Missouri sports betting license or announced application plans. As many as a dozen sportsbooks are expected to apply for licensure ahead of the Missouri Gaming Commission’s (MGC) Sept. 12 deadline.
An application must be submitted by the deadline for a Missouri online book to launch Dec. 1, the state’s universal go-live date.
Latest Missouri sports betting license applicant list
Nine sportsbooks have earned a Missouri sports betting license or have announced application plans.
DraftKings and Circa Sportsbook earned the state’s two “untethered” licenses, which allow them to enter the state without having to partner with a Missouri professional sports team or brick-and-mortar casino. This typically saves the sportsbook operator several million dollars in annual partnership fees but provides no other noticeable difference for bettors; both untethered and tethered licensees will be permitted statewide mobile betting access.
DraftKings, the nation’s No. 2 operator by market share, was expected to win one of the two untethered licenses. Circa shocked industry observers when it secured the other license over FanDuel, the No. 1 operator by market share.
Circa touted its business model catered toward sharp bettors whom other books have banned, arguing before the gaming commission in a licensing hearing last week that this could expand Missouri’s customer base. The MGC agreed, selecting Circa even though it acknowledged it could not generate as much gross revenue as FanDuel or DraftKings.
FanDuel announced an online sports betting market access deal with MLS' St. Louis CITY SC hours after Friday’s licensing announcement.
Missouri sports betting license applicants and/or announced launch plans (as of 8/18):
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) August 18, 2025
bet365
Caesars
Circa*
BetMGM
DraftKings*
ESPN BET
Fanatics
FanDuel
Underdog
*Already secured license
Bet365 secured the state’s first sportsbook-sports team partnership earlier this year with MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals. MLB’s Kansas City Royals, the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and the NWSL’s KC Current are also eligible for a sportsbook partnership.
Missouri permits any partnered sports team to open a retail sportsbook within or adjacent to their respective stadiums.
The Cardinals are expected to open a retail book in downtown St. Louis’ Ballpark Village adjacent to Busch Stadium sometime between the Dec. 1 go-live date and MLB Opening Day 2026. FanDuel and St. Louis CITY didn’t disclose retail book plans in a press release announcing their partnership Friday.
BetMGM announced online market access with Century Casinos, which operates two Missouri casinos. (BetMGM co-operator MGM Resorts does not manage a casino in the state.) Century posted a job opening for a retail sportsbook manager this month at its Cape Girardeau casino, indicating it plans to open an on-property book.
Fanatics and Underdog have also filed mobile sportsbook applications. Neither has announced a market access partner with a sports team or casino.
Caesars and PENN Entertainment, which each operate three Missouri casinos, announced online sportsbook launch plans for their respective digital books, Caesars Sportsbook and ESPN BET. PENN has also started hiring for retail books at all three of its Missouri properties.
Other potential Missouri sportsbooks
Bally Bet has de facto market access through parent company Bally’s and its Bally’s KC casino. The company has not announced launch plans.
Boyd Gaming also has direct access for its Boyd Sportsbook through the two Missouri casinos it operates, though it may not seek an online launch. The Boyd digital sportsbook is only live in Nevada and could struggle to find a foothold in Missouri against the national market share leaders.
BetRivers, whose parent company Rush Street Interactive is based in neighboring Illinois, could be another potential candidate. Rush Street officials did not indicate during a recent corporate earnings call any plans for a Missouri launch this year.
Hard Rock Bet is another major national brand that could be interested. The company has tended to be more selective in launch plans compared to other national brands, targeting states where it operates a brick-and-mortar casino or borders one that does. Hard Rock manages a casino near Chicago.
Missouri’s market access structure, combined with one of the lower gross gaming revenue tax rates of the 31 states to approve legal mobile sportsbooks, could make it attractive for other brands. But dwindling revenue opportunities could remain an obstacle; the nation’s five highest-grossing books accept more than 90% of all legal bets placed, with FanDuel and DraftKings alone accounting for roughly three-quarters of accepted wagers.
