- A Missouri sports betting amendment has been approved in the Show-Me State
- The constitutional amendment will go into effect in 30 days
- No word yet on when the Missouri Gaming Commission will strive to launch retail and online sports betting
The sports betting dust has finally settled in Missouri. After years of legislative failures, voters took fate into their own hands and narrowly approved a constitutional amendment to legalize both retail and online sports betting in the Show-Me State.
So, what now? Sports betting will probably be ready to launch in the next week or so, right? Oh my no. The long path to live Missouri sports betting has only just begun.
Missouri sports betting will likely not launch until mid-to-late 2025, with Dec. 1, 2025 legally the latest date sports betting can begin in the Show-Me State.
Will Election Results Stand?
Voters approved the sports betting amendment by a count of 1,469,866 yes votes to 1,462,380 no votes, a difference of just 7,486 votes, and a margin of victory of about 0.26%. Missouri will become the 39th state in the country to legalize sports betting and the 31st to approval online sports betting as well.
With the outcome being so close, there is potential for a recount request, as automatic recounts are not part of Missouri election law. However, while any group can call for a recount of an election result, they must fund the efforts out of their own pocket. A recount request most occur within seven days of certified election results.
The opposition campaign, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, has already spent millions during this election cycle so they may not have the stomach to fund a recount. The campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Sports Betting Dime if a recount was being considered.
The approved amendment will allow each professional Missouri sports franchise and land-based casino to be eligible for one retail sports betting license and one online sports betting license each. Each individual team and casino will also be able to partner with up to one online sports betting operator.
In total, the state can see 19 retail sports betting licenses and 21 online sports betting licenses under this framework.
Missouri Gaming Commission Can Begin Work in December
If the results stand the constitutional amendment will go into effect after 30 days, at which point the Missouri Gaming Commission can begin the long process of developing rules, regulations, and a licensing procedure for both retail and online sports betting.
On average, it takes a state about eight months from its sports betting approval to its sports betting launch. The gaming commission will be able to begin work in December, so if the average of eight months to launch stands, the state could be looking at start date sometime in August 2025.
The Missouri Gaming Commission did not respond to a request for comment from Sports Betting Dime on when the state may launch sports betting.
The latest state to launch sports betting, North Carolina, took nearly nine months after the state approved in June 2023 and launched in March 2024. The fastest state to ever launch from approval was Kansas, which took a mere 74 days from the signing of its bill into law to launch in September 2022.
Regulators will also determine if all forms of Missouri sports betting will launch on the same date or if they’ll be staggered.
What Operators May Apply for Licenses?
Based on the framework of the agreement, each casino and state sports franchise can apply for a retail and online sports betting license. Caesars Entertainment, PENN Entertainment, Boyd Gaming, Affinity Interactive, and Century Casinos own brick-and-mortar casinos in the state.
This means that Caesars Sportsbook and ESPN BET will likely apply for online sports betting licenses in Missouri. As per previous reports, it has been highly suggested that DraftKings and FanDuel are in line to receive the two untethered online sports betting licenses.
There are currently several sports betting partnerships or existing relationships in the state already. They are as follows:
- Kansas City Chiefs: DraftKings and BetMGM.
- Century Casinos: Company has a sports betting partnership with bet365. Owns two casinos in the state.
- PENN Entertainment: Partnership with ESPN BET. Company has three casinos in the state
- Caesars Entertainment: Caesars Sportsbook. Company has three casinos in the state.
Additional partnerships will be developed with sports betting operators as teams, casinos seek out licensure.
Missouri sports betting has been a hot topic in recent years, with many residents eager to see the state legalize and regulate this popular form of gambling. While progress has been slow, there are signs that things may be moving in the right direction.
Currently, there are several bills in the Missouri legislature that would legalize sports betting in the state. These bills vary in their specifics, but most propose allowing both in-person and online sports betting, with a portion of the revenue going towards education and infrastructure funding.
One of the main arguments in favor of legalizing sports betting in Missouri is the potential economic benefits. Proponents argue that legalizing and regulating sports betting would bring in much-needed revenue for the state, as well as create jobs and boost tourism.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of sports betting, such as increased problem gambling and addiction. They also worry about the integrity of sports if betting is allowed on games.
Despite these concerns, many states have already legalized sports betting, and Missouri may soon follow suit. If sports betting is legalized in the state, it is likely that it will be regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission, which already oversees casino gambling in the state.
Overall, the future of sports betting in Missouri is uncertain, but there is growing momentum towards legalization. It remains to be seen what form this legalization will take and what impact it will have on the state’s economy and residents. One thing is for sure – Missouri sports fans are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to legally bet on their favorite teams.
