Missouri Sports Betting: 2025 Legislation Updates
Missouri sports betting is legal, but not yet live. On November 5, local voters narrowly passed Amendment 2, opening the door for sports betting in the state in 2025.
Follow along below for the latest information on Missouri sports betting, including which sportsbooks will go live and what types of things you’ll be able to bet on.
As seen in
DFS pick’em and social sportsbooks in Missouri in 2025
Though sports betting is not live heading into the 2025 NBA and NHL playoffs, prospective bettors can place wagers via any one of the available DFS platforms in the state.
Get up to $100
- Spend $50, Get up to $100 in Fliff Coins
- 1x Playthrough
- Use Promo Code: SPORTSBONUS
- Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Cash
- PLUS a Pick'Em Special on Deposit
- Win Up to 100x Your Entry in a Single Night
- Use Bonus Code: LSRBET
Up to 100 Rebet Cash Matched on Your First Purchase
Hundreds of Leagues to Place Picks on
Live Betting, Prop City, Gamer Paradise, Live Game Chats
Use Promo Code: SPORTSBONUS
- Play Free for your Share of Millions with First Deposit
- T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
- To Claim: Click Play Now
- Free 3 SC + 1,000 GC on Sign Up
- Up to 5000x Your Entry with a HUGE Multiplier
- Treasure Jackpot - Win BIG on Any Entry
- Use Bonus Code: PLAYBONUS
Spend $10, Get $50 in Sweeps Coins
Make Winning Picks & Climb the Leaderboards
Use Promo Code: PLAYBONUS
Deposit Match
- Receive a Deposit Match up to $100
- Watch Sports, Play Fantasy, Win Cash!
- To Claim: Click Play Now
Is sports betting legal in Missouri?
Sports betting is legal, though here are no legal sportsbooks in Missouri at this time. The nearest places to bet are in Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Legal sportsbooks will be coming to Missouri by December 2025 — the Missouri Gaming Commission’s deadline to come up with a set of rules for prospective operators. This spring, the MGC tried to expedite this process by instituting emergency legislative powers, aiming for a launch by June 2025. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected this proposition, stating that the MGC’s claims did not meet the criteria for what constitutes an “emergency” in the state.
DFS pick’em and social sportsbooks are currently legal in Missouri and offering contests now. Currently, up to 21 operators have the opportunity to launch in the stae.
What’s happening in Missouri sports betting right now
- Feb. 25, 2025 — Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejects “emergency rulemaking” proposition set forth by the Missouri Gaming Commission
- Jan. 6, 2025 — Jan Zimmerman, chair of the Missouri Gaming Commission, states that a sports betting launch date could be announced as early as May 28
- Dec 2, 2024 — Rush Street Interactive has high hopes for Missouri sports betting launch.
- Nov. 5, 2024 — Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 to legalize sports betting. Passing with just over 50%, it squeaks through on the ballot.
- Oct. 15, 2024 — Sports betting companies recently contributed more money to both sides of the Missouri sports betting ballot issue.
- Oct. 11, 2024 — Jacqueline Wood, the plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the Missouri sports betting question’s certification process, is listed as treasurer for a Caesars-backed PAC opposing the ballot question.
- Sept. 25, 2024 — During a recent debate, gubernatorial candidates Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Democrat Rep. Crystal Quade said they support legal Missouri sports betting
- Sept. 24, 2024 — A new study released by Winning for Missouri Education and Eilers & Krejcik estimated that Missouri sportsbooks could generate $560 million annually
- Sept. 24, 2024 — DraftKings and FanDuel both made $5 million contributions to the Winning for Missouri Education sports betting ballot campaign.
- Sept. 19, 2024 — A new poll found 52% of voters in Missouri support legalizing sports betting.
- Sept. 16, 2024 — Three Caesars-owned Missouri casinos contributed more than $4 million to the Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, the initiative opposing the sports betting ballot question.
Status of Missouri sports betting
While legislative efforts to legalize sports betting in Missouri failed again in 2024, a ballot initiative garnered more than 50% of the vote during the 2024 election. With the referendum, the Missouri Gaming Commission is working on getting sports betting up and running by December 2025.
At the end of January, Missouri Gaming Commission Chair Jan ZImmerman said a rules draft for sports betting is now in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s hands for review. The Missouri Gaming Commission will hold meetings on May 28 and June 25.
Ahead of the sports betting launch later this year, DFS pick’em and social sportsbooks continue to operate legally in the state. The state has ordered DFS companies to stop offering house-versus-player contests, but peer-to-peer contests remain available.
When will online sports betting launch in Missouri?
Sometime in 2025. Sports betting will appeared on the ballot in November 2024, and with voters passing Amendment 2, that means 2025 would be the earliest time for a launch.
Sports betting sites that could launch in Missouri
Here are some of the online sportsbooks that we see as most likely to appear and offer the top sports betting promos if the state decides to legalize online sports betting in the future:
- Fanatics Sportsbook — Fanatics Sportsbook is quickly expanding nationwide as one of the newer sportsbooks on the market. This app, owned by the Fanatics retail empire, has been among the first sportsbooks to launch in several newly legal states. Missouri likely would not be any different.
- Bet365 — Bet365 is another top sportsbook expanding in the US rather than retracting. Missouri would be an attractive destination for this Europe-based company.
- FanDuel Sportsbook — FanDuel is already active in the state as a daily fantasy sports provider and has a market access deal with Boyd Gaming, which owns two casinos in Missouri. FanDuel is often quick to appear in new legal sports betting locales.
- DraftKings Sportsbook — DraftKings is a fixture in Missouri due to its DFS options. It also operates the closest land-based sportsbook to Missouri — DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. The company is quite proactive about new launches and will almost certainly find a way to the table in Missouri.
- Caesars Sportsbook — In addition to online sports betting, Caesars has numerous physical casinos around the world. In fact, three casinos in Missouri are Caesars properties, providing a clear path for the sportsbook to enter the market in the Show-Me State.
- BetMGM Sportsbook — BetMGM is one of the top sportsbook apps in the United States. MGM has partnership deals with both MLB and the NFL, meaning that it will likely have options to access Missouri’s sports betting market if it goes live.
- BetRivers Sportsbook — BetRivers is the online arm of regional casino giant Rush Street Gaming. The company is based in nearby Illinois and will likely find a way to be part of any potential expansion one state over from its home base.
- ESPN Bet — ESPN Bet operates Penn National Gaming’s online sports betting interests. Penn National owns three properties in the state, meaning ESPN could be part of legal sports betting in Missouri.
- Bally Bet — Bally Bet is a newer sportsbook that offers service from one of the best-known brand names in all of gambling. Bally’s recently purchased Casino KC and rebranded it as Bally’s Kansas City. Undoubtedly, a Bally Bet app launch is part of the company’s long-term plans in Missouri.
Latest Missouri sports betting news
-
Cardinals Grab Bet365 For Missouri Sports Betting
With a Missouri sports betting launch looming this fall, a key stakeholder in legalization now has a sportsbook partner. The St. Louis Cardinals announced Monday that they have partnered with…
Legal sports betting options in Missouri
There are currently no legal sports betting options in Missouri. The state legalized betting on horse races in 1984, but only at racetracks. There are no racetracks in Missouri, so there is no legal betting on horses. Online horse betting could be part of sports betting legislation.
There are illegal offshore websites that offer sports betting in Missouri. They do not hold a license from any US jurisdiction to legally accept bets from residents. Without regulation from the state, these offshore betting apps are under no obligation to resolve any disputes that arise. Additionally, there is nothing that keeps an offshore sportsbook from disappearing with its customers’ money.
The safest and most protected way to bet on sports in the United States is with a licensed sportsbook.
Missouri horse racing
Technically, betting on Missouri horse racing is legal. However, no racing currently operates in Missouri. Although the state legalized horse racing and betting in 1984, no developers found the details appealing enough to open a track.
One problem is the law only permits simulcast wagering on days that tracks hold live races.
There have been several efforts in the legislature over the years to interest investors in opening a track by changing the law to allow simulcast betting throughout the year and allow casino games at racetracks, but so far those efforts have failed.
Although horse betting theoretically is legal in Missouri at a racetrack, it is not legal to bet on races from around the country on online platforms. Online horse racing betting could be part of future sports betting legislation.
Missouri DFS pick’em and social sportsbooks
Daily fantasy sports contests are legal under Missouri state law. The Missouri Fantasy Consumer Protection Act of 2016 established a licensing format for legitimate DFS providers to operate as normal vendors in the state. Several DFS companies are in good standing with the Missouri government to do business in the state.
In March 2024, the Missouri Gaming Commission sent a memo to licensed fantasy sports operators to cease and desist from offering against-the-house pick’em contests. Peer-to-peer fantasy contests are still available in the state, as is social sports betting on sweepstakes-style platforms.
Fliff Missouri
Fliff is a social sportsbook that looks and feels like a traditional sportsbook. Users compete against one another by making picks on the platform the same way they would place a wager at a traditional online sportsbook. However, instead of using real money, Fliff users can collect either “Fliff Coins,” which have no cash value, or “Fliff Cash,” which are eligible to redeem for real money at a rate of 1:1. Fliff users can also “follow” each other on the app like on any other social platform to track picks and interact with one another.
Rebet Missouri
Similar to Fliff, the Rebet social sportsbook offers wagers using dual virtual currencies — in this case, “Rebet Coins” and “Rebet Cash.” The second of those offers a chance to redeem winnings for real money. As a social sportsbook, Rebet also offers social-style options that users can use to follow their friends. The platform also offers peer-to-peer wagering and the option for users to “rebet” their friends’ wagers.
Most popular sports to bet on in Missouri
Missouri is home to several professional sports organizations. There are representatives of almost every major sports league in the Show-Me State. In some cases, there are two. Should Missouri ever legalize sports betting, these teams will be hot tickets.
NFL betting in Missouri
The story of the NFL in Missouri is very much a tale of two cities. Kansas City is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. Meanwhile, St. Louis has had two NFL teams leave the city. The bottom line is that there is only one Missouri NFL team right now:
- Kansas City Chiefs: Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, MO 64129
MLB betting in Missouri
Missouri’s two major cities are each home to Major League Baseball teams. Both have experienced success in the past two decades, with World Series rings in both camps.
- Kansas City Royals: Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129
- St. Louis Cardinals: Busch Stadium, 700 Clark Ave., St. Louis, MO 63102
NHL betting in Missouri
A single representative from the NHL calls Missouri home, and in 2019, it brought the state its first Stanley Cup.
- St. Louis Blues: Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103
NBA betting in Missouri
The lone exception to the presence of major professional sports leagues in Missouri is the NBA. Since the Kansas City Kings left in the mid-1980s, the state has been without an NBA representative.
For whatever reason, professional basketball has had difficulty staying afloat in Missouri. Before the Kings, Missourians also witnessed the end of both the NBA’s St. Louis Bombers and the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis, along with the arrival of the St. Louis Hawks and then their departure to Atlanta. NBA fans in Missouri must turn to the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, or Chicago Bulls as the closest teams to root for.
NCAA betting in Missouri
Missouri is home to several prominent universities. Of course, the largest and best-known college in the state is the University of Missouri in Columbia. The Tigers have experienced success in multiple sports. Unfortunately, Missouri residents will not be able to wager on the West Region’s No. 6 Tigers during March Madness 2025.
Still, bettors eventually could wager on Tigers sports. In addition, they could look to several other Division I universities in Missouri, and many of them figure to be popular options if the state allows sports betting:
- Missouri State University
- Saint Louis University
- Southeast Missouri State University
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
The unknown factor for college sports betting in Missouri is how many activities the law or the Missouri Gaming Commission would allow as options for Missouri sports bettors. In-state colleges are frequent subjects of restrictions from lawmakers and gambling commissions in other states. Bettors sometimes cannot place certain types of wagers or bet on in-state schools at all.
So, although games featuring the above schools would be popular choices, it’s not yet clear whether they would be legal options.
Missouri sports betting timeline
2025
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the emergency status for activating on sports betting rules. The original estimated launch of June 2025 has been pushed back to sometime in the fall.
If legislation and legislators align, the process could launch in time for Missourians to bet on the Chiefs for Week 1 of the 2025-26 NFL regular season. However, given the numerous delays so far, we should not assume that date is set in stone.
2024
Two new sports betting bills, SB 852 and SB 824, are filed at the start of the state’s 2024 Legislative session.
Saint Louis University and YouGov release a poll that shows 60% support from Missouri residents for sports betting legalization to support public education.
FanDuel and DraftKings donate more than $2 million toward the Missouri sports betting ballot initiative. The Winning for Missouri Education initiative submits 340,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office. 170,000 valid signatures are required to get the question of sports betting on the ballot.
The 2024 legislative session ends on May 24 without passing legal sports betting legislation.
The Missouri Gaming Commission sent a memo to licensed fantasy sports operators on March 19 to cease and desist offering against-the-house pick’em contests. The state still allows peer-to-peer fantasy contests.
Missouri sports betting will remain on the ballot in November after a judge ruled in favor of Secretary of State John Ashcroft.
2023
Multiple sports betting bills are introduced during the 2023 legislative session, including SB 30, which passes the House but fails in the Senate near the finish line.
All the introduced legislation fails during the 2023 session, with Sen. Denny Hoskins playing a key role. Hoskins wants sports betting tied to regulatory language for video lottery terminals and participates in filibusters throughout the session.
The Hoskins obstruction began in 2022 when he prevented Rep. Dan Houx’s proposal despite a coalition of the state’s professional teams, casinos, and national sportsbook companies backing the legislation.
In September, the Missouri Pro Sports Coalition, consisting of six pro sports teams in the state, files eight proposals to amend the state constitution to allow Missouri sportsbooks.
2022
There is renewed hope in 2022 for Missouri’s online sports betting. A proposal from a coalition backed by the state’s professional sports teams, casinos, and national sportsbook operators appears to have steam.
Legislation containing the proposal passes the House and advances to the Senate floor. In the Senate chamber, however, the proposal is filibustered by the author of a competing bill.
While three alternate proposals are presented to the coalition, the casinos disagree with the new compromises. The Senate adjourns for the year without acting on a sports betting bill.
2021
While there is momentum from previous years’ efforts, Missouri sports betting legislation fails to gain much traction in 2021. A main bill legalizing sports betting falls to the side without casino support, as it was tied to video lottery terminal regulation.
2020
Despite the progress in the special committee at the end of 2019, Missouri legislators introduce six bills in 2020, and most have the same problems as old bills.
Even after what Rep. Dan Shaul said in the special committee, he introduces a bill with an integrity fee and official league data. That bill, which also included video lottery terminals and would have allowed the lottery to offer games based on the outcomes of sporting events, quickly advances to the House floor. The bill ultimately fails.
2019
A Missouri sports betting bill that the House General Laws Committee passes would have been like a dream to sports leagues. Not only would it have given them their request of an official league data mandate, but also their old request of a 0.25% integrity fee plus an additional 0.6% of handle to fund maintenance upkeep at Missouri sports facilities.
A Special Interim Committee on Gaming convenes in October seemed to have a better understanding of what is necessary in a bill for potential sportsbooks in the state to put out a competitive product.
2018
The first MO sports betting bills appear in 2018. Even then, there is a lot of interest but not much agreement on how to conduct sports betting.
In preparation for the US Supreme Court overturning PASPA, Missouri legislators introduce six sports betting bills.
Responsible Gambling in Missouri
The MGC is expected to enforce strict rules, including no ads targeting minors, background checks for operators, and resources for problem gambling baked into every platform. The state’s 10% tax will partly fund the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund, offering support for those who need it. If you or someone you know struggles with gambling, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Missouri sports betting FAQ
Sports betting is not legal in Missouri. A 2025 launch is now in the works, with the legislation being passed in late 2024.
The Missouri Gaming Commission. The MGC oversees all gambling in the state — even charitable gaming — except for the lottery. It is the natural regulator for any new gambling in Missouri, including sports betting, and many of the bills under consideration explicitly name it as the oversight agency. It’s possible that the lottery commission might end up in charge of regulation. That, however, is the less likely of the two options.
Yes, Missourians will be able to bet online when the launch happens in 2025. It’s unlikely that any legislator will want to restrict online sports betting with tethering.
You’ll need to be 21 or older. The existing gambling options in the state have already established a precedent for players to be over the drinking age, and the active measures in the Missouri General Assembly each identify eligible players as people over the age of 21.
No. There are currently no sportsbook operators that are licensed at the federal level, which means all US sportsbooks are licensed at the state level. Any website that suggests betting from anywhere in the US is allowed is a website that operates offshore. It is not legal for those sites to accept bets from US citizens, and those sites offer no protection to those who bet on them.