Missouri is advancing toward launching its regulated sports betting market, with the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) recently submitting a draft version of proposed regulations to Governor Mike Kehoe’s office. Following the passage of a statewide ballot initiative in November, Missouri is preparing to issue licenses and begin operations by mid-2025, although regulations allow for a final deadline of December 1, 2025.

Missouri voters narrowly approved sports betting legalization in the November 2024 election, making it the 39th state to do so. Since then, state regulators have been working to finalize operational details. On January 27, the MGC submitted its preliminary rules to the governor’s office, a key milestone in the regulatory process.

MGC Chair Jan Zimmerman, cited by KSHB 41 Kansas City, confirmed that the commission remains committed to issuing licenses by June 2025, acknowledging that the timeline remains ambitious. She noted that the process is extensive, requiring thorough background investigations of applicants, financial disclosures, and compliance verifications. According to Zimmerman, the MGC staff has been working tirelessly, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure the market is ready to launch on schedule.

Licensing Structure and Betting Options

The regulatory framework allows for up to 14 online sports betting licenses. Missouri’s 13 land-based casinos will have the opportunity to apply for licenses to operate both retail and online sportsbooks. Additionally, the law establishes designated sports betting districts around the home stadiums of the state’s six professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals. Two additional licenses, independent of casino affiliations, will also be granted, though competition for these permits remains open.

While many expect major operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel to secure untethered licenses, Zimmerman emphasized that the selection process would be competitive and structured rather than automatically favoring leading brands. She suggested that a point-based system or another transparent method would be used to determine recipients, according to Fox4KC.

Impact on Missouri Residents

For now, Missouri sports fans must still cross into neighboring Kansas to legally place wagers. Sports betting has been legal in Kansas since 2022, leading to an influx of Missouri residents traveling across state lines to place bets. Patrons at bars and restaurants near the Kansas border have expressed frustration over the wait, with some hoping that Missouri’s rollout will soon eliminate the need to travel for legal betting options.

Although the regulatory process is progressing, any adjustments to Missouri’s sports betting framework—including tax rates or specific betting restrictions—would require another statewide vote due to the initiative’s passage as a constitutional amendment. For now, Missouri bettors must wait until at least mid-2025 before they can legally place bets from within the state.