Legal sports betting arrived in Missouri yesterday with eight mobile sportsbooks and seven retail sportsbook venues accepting their first wagers.
Licensed operators with approved internal controls and house rules were allowed to offer live wagering from Monday December 1, although there was one less mobile operator than initially planned following the withdrawal of Underdog’s licence application last week.
The milestone launch in Missouri is the result of voters’ approval of Amendment 2 in November 2024, which legalized sports betting statewide.
“We are pleased that Missourians are now able to place wagers on sporting events,” said Missouri Gaming Commission chairman Jan Zimmerman. “Sports wagering will create new jobs, increase tax revenue, and further enhance education in our great state. I am incredibly proud of the MGC staff for their hard work and dedication in getting sports wagering to the finish line.”
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars celebrated its launch with special ceremonial first bet events at Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis, featuring former St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green and Chiefs Legend Christian Okoye.
Green will also embark on a cross-state tour to visit all three Caesars destinations in Missouri – Horseshoe St. Louis, Isle of Capri Boonville, and Harrah’s Kansas City.
“Caesars Sportsbook is proud to deliver a premier sports wagering experience to Missouri and a special promotion that’s true to the experience sports fans in the state should come to expect,” said Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital. “From our intuitive mobile app to our in-person sportsbooks at Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis, we’re committed to providing a secure and responsible way for fans to engage with the sports they love.”
Fanatics Betting & Gaming
Fanatics Sportsbook opened its doors at Boyd Gaming’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and ceremonial first bet by retired baseball legend Alex Gordon. Fanatics also launched its mobile app under Boyd’s sports betting license.
“Boyd Gaming is thrilled to partner with Fanatics to bring the excitement of sports betting to our Missouri guests,” said Ward Shaw, executive vice president of operations for Boyd Gaming. “Whether they are seeking the social experience of a retail sportsbook or the convenience and simplicity of mobile wagering, we are confident Ameristar guests will enjoy a best-in-market experience with Fanatics, America’s fastest-growing online sportsbook.”
Fanatics Betting and Gaming spokesperson Kevin Hennessy commented: “Sports fans in Missouri have waited patiently for legal sports betting to come to the Show-Me State and now it’s our turn to show them why winning hits different at Fanatics Sportsbook.
“Fanatics has a long history of delivering official team merchandise and collectibles to sports fans in Missouri and we can’t wait to introduce them to FanCash and Fair Play that sets Fanatics Sportsbook apart from the competition and both are available online and at retail.”
PENN Entertainment
PENN Entertainment went online in Missouri after completing the rebrand of its online sports betting platform from ESPN Bet to theScore Bet, which is now live in 21 US jurisdictions.
PENN also operates three retail properties in the state – Hollywood Casino & Hotel St. Louis, River City Casino Hotel in St. Louis, and Argosy Casino Hotel in Riverside – with all three opening retail sportsbooks yesterday.
“We’re pleased to introduce theScore Bet to millions of fans across the US, and welcome new customers in Missouri,” said Aaron LaBerge, chief technology officer and head of interactive at PENN Entertainment. “We look forward to creating the same fan connection with theScore Bet brand in the US as we’ve done in Ontario and delivering players more of what they want – rewards, offers, and creative promotions.”
BetMGM
BetMGM launched mobile and retail sports betting in Missouri with its partner Century Casinos, taking its first retail bets at the BetMGM Sportsbook at Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau.
“With the launch of legal sports betting in Missouri, we’re thrilled to introduce a wide range of entertainment offerings through our mobile app and new retail sportsbook,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “As a partner of the Kansas City Chiefs and with St. Louis native Jon Hamm as our ambassador, BetMGM is bringing the thrill of Las Vegas to the Show-Me State.”
Century Casinos co-CEOs Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger said: “We are pleased to open the BetMGM Sportsbook at our Cape Girardeau property. Sports betting has generated significant excitement in Missouri, and today marks an important step with the launch of both retail and online sports wagering.
“Offering guests the option to wager in person at our casino or online creates a comprehensive and seamless experience. We believe these new services strengthen our property’s market position and will introduce new customers to Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau.”
Circa Sports
Alongside DraftKings, Circa was one of two operators to be selected as a direct mobile licensee by the Missouri Gaming Commission in August.
“Launching in Missouri is a major moment for Circa Sports as we bring our Las Vegas-born philosophy to one of the most passionate sports regions in the country,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports. “From day one, our goal has been to build a sports betting brand that treats bettors with respect – offering transparency, fair limits, competitive odds and a customer experience that puts players first.
“We’ve heard the excitement from Missouri sports fans throughout pre-registration, and we’re thrilled to now deliver a product built for both casual players and serious bettors alike. We’re looking forward to earning the trust of customers across the state and becoming part of Missouri’s growing sports betting landscape.”
FanDuel
FanDuel is celebrating its arrival in Missouri with significant investments in local communities around the state. Ahead of launch, FanDuel announced a $300,000 donation to Guns ‘N Hoses, the St. Louis-based non-profit that hosts the annual charity boxing event benefiting The BackStoppers, which provides financial assistance to the families of fallen and catastrophically injured first responders.
In Kansas City, FanDuel will expand its statewide community commitment with a $300,000 donation to the Veterans Community Project, an organization dedicated to fixing veteran homelessness through transitional housing and wraparound support services.
“Introducing FanDuel to sports fans in Missouri is a huge moment for our business, and we look forward to bringing the passionate fans across the state the experience of America’s #1 Sportsbook,” said Karol Corcoran, managing director of sportsbook at FanDuel. “In addition to our leading product and parlay experience, Missouri customers can expect exciting promotions, including our Missouri Super Boost, where fans who place a wager can win up to $50 if one point is scored during tonight’s Monday Night Football game.
“We are also passionate about giving back to our communities, and we are proud of the work we are doing to support veterans and first responders through our partners at Guns ‘N Hoses and Veterans Community Project.”
DraftKings
DraftKings’ launch in Missouri marked its 29th state launch and sports legends Isaac Bruce and Brett Hull were on hand to place ceremonial first bets at The Palladium in St. Louis.
“We’re proud to bring our best-in-class product to Missouri’s passionate sports fans — furthering the fan experience with innovative, responsible, and engaging ways to connect with the games they love,” said the company. “As part of our commitment to supporting the communities where we operate, DraftKings donated to the Veterans Community Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness in Missouri. The contribution will support VCP’s Tiny Homes initiative, which provides transitional housing, comprehensive care, and essential services to help Veterans successfully transition to independent living.”
bet365
Missouri marks the 16th US state for bet365’s online sportsbook, with the company partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals. “This milestone reflects the incredible teamwork and dedication of everyone involved in bringing the bet365 experience to Missouri,” said the company.
As part of its multi-year partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals, bet365 has secured naming rights to the bet365 Bridge, an all-inclusive fan experience located in right-center field at Busch Stadium.
Underdog
Underdog was also expected to launch its sportsbook in Missouri but withdrew its sports betting license application in order to focus on sports event contracts through its prediction markets partnership with Crypto.com.