Missouri has officially become the 39th US state to launch legal sports betting, with online and retail wagering going live at midnight on 1 December. Anyone aged 21 or over can now place bets either online or at licenced casinos and sports venues across the state.
Spectrum News has reported that casinos in the St Louis region opened betting kiosks immediately after midnight, with some operators marking the launch with in-person events. At Caesars Sportsbook, former St Louis Rams quarterback Trent Green placed the venue’s first ceremonial wager. Horseshoe Casino confirmed it has hired at least 12 new staff to support expanded betting facilities.
Professional sports teams enter the market
Under Missouri’s sports betting law, the state’s six major league teams are permitted to operate their own retail sportsbooks. Collectively, the teams contributed $2 million to the $43 million campaign that helped secure voter approval for legalisation through Amendment 2 in November 2024.
Teams will also control on-site betting and advertising within a 400-yard radius of their stadiums and arenas. Several have already announced commercial partnerships with national operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel and Underdog.
Tax structure and responsible gambling commitments
Missouri has set a 10 percent tax on sports betting revenue, lower than the national average of around 19 percent. At least $5 million annually will be earmarked for problem gambling services, with remaining tax proceeds directed to the state’s education system, covering primary, secondary and higher education.
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC), which oversees the market, confirmed that licensing rules became effective on 30 August 2025, following a review period that opened for applications in May.
Major operators secure positions for launch
Ahead of the go-live date, several leading operators confirmed that they had secured temporary licences. According to the MGC, seven operators received approval on 22 October 2025, allowing them to begin system testing prior to launch. These are bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, PENN Entertainment and Underdog.
DraftKings and Circa Sports were granted untethered licences in August, allowing them to operate independently without casino partnerships. Circa’s approval, granted ahead of FanDuel for that category, was widely considered an unexpected move at the time.
DraftKings confirms launch for 1 December
DraftKings officially announced that its mobile sportsbook would go live on 1 December, following receipt of a temporary direct mobile wagering licence. Missouri now becomes the 29th jurisdiction where DraftKings operates, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Ontario.
From launch day, Missouri customers will gain access to the operator’s full wagering suite, including same-game parlays, in-play betting, seasonal promotions and responsible gambling features.
Greg Karamitis, Chief Revenue Officer at DraftKings, said Missouri’s strong sports culture and the busy winter sports calendar made the state “an exciting jurisdiction” for the rollout. The operator also announced a new partnership with the St Louis Blues to support fan engagement activities around launch.
Regulatory background
Missouri legalised sports betting via Amendment 2, which passed by a razor-thin margin of 50.05 percent to 49.95 percent. The legislation authorises 19 retail and 21 online licences, including allocations for each of the state’s six major league sports teams.
The November 2024 vote had a notable impact on markets when announced. Shares in DraftKings, FanDuel’s parent Flutter Entertainment, and Rush Street Interactive all saw gains of 3 percent, 2.51 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.
Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, previously praised the outcome as a significant milestone for regulated gaming in the US.
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