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Every operator who submitted applications before the September 12 deadline received approval from the Missouri Gaming Commission. The temporary licenses enable operators to test their systems and equipment in the coming weeks, ensuring a smooth launch when sports betting becomes available to Missouri residents.
Missouri voters approved sports betting through a ballot initiative in November 2024, and the Commission has worked to establish regulations and prepare for market entry. The state will become the 33rd U.S. jurisdiction to offer legal digital sports betting and marks the first new market launch since North Carolina in March 2024. No U.S. state legalized sports betting in 2025 prior to Missouri’s entry.
Market Access Structure
The state’s legislation permits up to 21 digital platforms, including two untethered licenses and 19 tied to existing casinos or qualified professional sports teams. Each casino operator also holds the right to establish an in-person sportsbook at their facilities.
DraftKings and Circa Sports secured the two untethered licenses in August. The remaining approved operators obtained market access through partnerships with retail partners:
- Bet365 (St. Louis Cardinals)
- BetMGM (Century Casinos)
- Caesars Sportsbook (Caesars Resorts)
- ESPN Bet (Penn Entertainment)
- Fanatics Sportsbook (Boyd Gaming)
- FanDuel (MLS St. Louis SC)
- Kambi (partner undisclosed)
- Underdog (Kansas City Royals)
Bet365, Circa, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Underdog will not operate retail sportsbooks in the state. The partner entity for Kambi’s back-end systems remains undisclosed. Among the remaining licensees, BetMGM plans to operate a physical sportsbook at Century’s Cape Girardeau location, while Penn and Caesars each own two retail casinos. Fanatics intends to establish sportsbooks at two Boyd Gaming locations.
Supplier Approvals
The Commission also granted temporary licenses to key suppliers, including BMM Test Labs, Gaming Laboratories International, Genius Sports, GeoComply, Integrity Compliance 360, Kambi, SIS Content Services, Swish Analytics, Catalist Sports, and The International Betting Integrity Association.
According to the Commission, more than 1,100 applications were received from operators, suppliers, and vendors. The regulatory body must also vet applications for key individuals—typically those holding more than 5% stakes in companies—and certain other employees.
Pre-Launch Timeline
These temporary licenses will allow companies to test systems and equipment and make any necessary preparations needed before launching sports wagering on Dec. 1.
Liz Hoffman, the Commission’s PR coordinator, confirmed the timeline in an official statement.
Sportsbooks that complete all required approvals will be permitted to begin accepting deposits from Missouri bettors on November 17. When betting commences on December 1, operators will face a 10% tax rate on revenue.
The Commission plans to issue formal permanent licenses in the coming weeks.
While Underdog announced a marketing partnership with the St. Louis Blues last week, the NHL team has not partnered with any entity for sportsbook operations. The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs also have not announced a market-access partner.
Source: Missouri Gaming Commission
