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Missouri residents will soon be able to bet on sports legally through online sportsbooks. The Missouri Gaming Commission has set Dec. 1, 2025, as the launch date. With only weeks to go, sports bettors in the Show-Me State are eager to get started and curious about which sports betting apps will be available.
State authorities are finalizing sports betting regulations and licensing operators. Below is an overview of the timeline leading to the launch of sports betting in Missouri and a preview of the top sports betting apps.
Missouri’s leap into legal betting: A new chapter begins
Sports betting is legal in Missouri, following voter approval of the Sports Betting Initiative of Missouri (Amendment 2) on Nov. 5, 2024. However, residents must wait until Dec. 1, 2025, for the sports betting industry to go live and for licensed online sportsbooks to begin operations.
A brief history of sports betting legalization in Missouri
Missouri’s journey to legalize sports betting began in 2022, four years after the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. Here’s a summary of key events:
2022 Legislation passed in the Missouri House but stalled in the Senate due to debates over including video lottery terminals (VLTs).
2023 SB 30 and other sports betting bills were introduced but failed to pass due to disagreements over VLTs.
2024
- August: Proponents of sports betting legislation collected over 300,000 signatures to certify the November ballot.
- November: Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 with 50.05% support.
- December: State officials certified the election results, confirming the passage of Amendment 2.
2025
February: The Missouri Secretary of State delayed the launch after rejecting the emergency rulemaking process for sports betting.
May: The Missouri Gaming Commission began accepting license applications for sportsbooks. BetMGM partnered with Century Casinos.
June: DraftKings and Underdog Sports were the first sportsbooks to apply for licenses. DraftKings applied for an untethered license.
July: FanDuel and Circa Sports applied for untethered licenses. No state residents submitted comments on the launch, maintaining Dec. 1, 2025, as the launch date.
August: The Missouri Gaming Commission awarded untethered licenses to DraftKings and Circa Sports on Aug. 15. The commission announced that license applications were due by Sept. 12, 2025. Fanatics Sportsbook applied for online and retail licenses and announced a partnership with Boyd Gaming.
September: The Missouri Gaming Commission confirmed Dec. 1, 2025, as the launch date. ESPN BET submitted its license application, and Underdog Sports partnered with the Kansas City Royals.
October: The Missouri Gaming Commission stated, “Mobile sports wagering operators may allow patrons to establish online wagering accounts and accept deposits beginning at 12 a.m. Nov. 17.” Temporary sports betting licenses are set to be issued in October 2025.
Top sportsbooks ready to reshape Missouri’s betting game
Missouri’s sports betting legislation allows up to 14 online sportsbooks to operate, with licenses divided into two types: 12 tethered and two untethered. Tethered licenses require sportsbooks to partner with existing land-based casinos or professional sports teams, with six licenses allocated to casinos and six to sports teams. Untethered licenses allow sportsbooks to operate independently.
At least 12 sportsbooks are expected to launch in Missouri on Dec. 1, 2025, including some of the biggest brands in US and global sports betting markets. Here’s an overview of the top contenders:
DraftKings secured one of the two untethered licenses. It has offered daily fantasy sports (DFS) bets in Missouri since 2016 and was a key proponent of sports betting legalization, alongside FanDuel and others.
FanDuel, which has offered DFS bets in Missouri since 2016, also campaigned for legalization. After failing to secure an untethered license, it partnered with St. Louis City SC. Boyd Gaming, which operates multiple Missouri casinos, holds a small stake in FanDuel.
BetMGM partnered with Century Casino & Hotel in Cape Girardeau and plans to launch its online and mobile betting platforms on Dec. 1.
bet365 As the world’s largest online sportsbook, bet365 partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals in March 2025 to enter the Missouri market.
Circa Sports secured an untethered license, allowing it to operate without a casino or team partnership.
Fanatics Sportsbook, a newer but rapidly growing brand, partnered with Boyd Gaming to access the Missouri market.
Bally Bet, another emerging brand, will leverage its Bally’s Kansas City casino to enter the online and mobile betting markets.
BetRivers benefits from a 2022 strategic agreement between PENN Entertainment and Rush Street Interactive, positioning it for a likely launch in December.
Underdog Sports, one of the first to apply for a license, secured market access through a partnership with the Kansas City Royals.
Caesars Sportsbook secured an untethered license and has existing partnerships with Horseshoe St. Louis and Harrah’s Kansas City casinos.
ESPN BET, with partnerships at Argosy Riverside Casino, River City Casino, and Hollywood Casino St. Louis, is expected to launch in December.
