Missouri Officially Begins Accepting Sports Betting Licenses

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
05/15/2025
Sports Betting
Photo by Greenstrat via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Greenstrat via Wikimedia Commons

Key Takeaways

  • The MGC will be accepting license applications until September
  • A total of 19 retail and 21 mobile licenses will be available
  • Missouri must launch sports betting by December 1

The Show-Me State just took an important step towards launching a legal sports betting market.

The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is officially accepting applications for sports betting licenses as of today. There will be 19 retail and 21 online licenses available, though they may choose not to give out that many as applications roll in over the summer.

Licenses will begin to be issued in September, and the market must go live by December 1. 

Missouri Took Long Route to Legalization

Sports betting bills had failed to pass the Missouri state legislature for years. Despite strong support, a series of filibusters prevented votes on those bills. This deadlock led to outside parties taking matters into their own hands.

A group of the state’s pro sports teams formed a coalition to organize a ballot initiative. They secured enough signatures to get sports betting on the November 2024 ballot, which voters approved by a narrow margin.

Missouri’s road to legalization serves as a road map for the handful of states that have failed to pass their sports betting bills. 

How Many Sportsbooks Will Apply?

While 21 mobile sports betting licenses will be awarded, it seems unlikely the state will fill them all. One reason for that is DraftKings and FanDuel's domination of the market, which has led to many operators exiting the US sports betting market. That means fewer sportsbooks are around, and the smaller ones are less incentivized to push for further expansion.

Expect to see the two industry leaders apply for licenses, likely followed by BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics. Bet365 has also been expanding and could add Missouri to its growing list of markets.

One factor that will tempt other sportsbooks is the state’s 10% tax rate, which is one of the lowest in the US. That means operators will keep more revenue, giving them plenty of reason to join the new market.

Will Missouri Join the Fight Against Prediction Markets?

With legal sports betting set to launch before the end of the year, state lawmakers must decide what to do with the rise of sports prediction markets. 

Several states are launching legal battles to push these controversial trading platforms out to protect their sports betting industry. While prediction markets are considered trading instead of gambling, they offer a way for people to wager on sports, cutting into the tax revenue states generate from the industry.

The question now is whether Missouri will join the fight other states have started or simply watch from the sidelines as court rulings are handed down.

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!