Missouri Sports Betting 2026

Overview

Missouri became the 39th state to launch legal online sports betting at midnight on December 1, 2025. The launch came thirteen months after voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, ending a multi-year stalemate in Jefferson City and turning the Show Me State into one of the more competitive new markets in the country.

Quick facts

• Launch date: December 1, 2025
• Online operators live at launch: 8
• Online licenses authorized: 14 (6 casino-tethered, 6 team-tethered, 2 untethered)
• Retail licenses authorized: 19
• Minimum age: 21
• Authorizing measure: Amendment 2 (November 2024)

Regulatory Backstory

Missouri lawmakers had filed sports betting bills every session since 2018 without success, repeatedly blocked by disputes over video lottery terminals and tax rates. A coalition led by the state's six professional sports teams (the Cardinals, Royals, Chiefs, Blues, Sporting KC, and Current) ran around the legislature with a citizen initiative. Amendment 2 reached the November 2024 ballot and passed with roughly 50.05% of the vote, one of the closest gambling-related ballot results in recent memory. The amendment specifically required the market to be operational by December 1, 2025, and the Missouri Gaming Commission met that deadline.

Current Market

Eight sportsbooks went live at the December 1 launch: bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa Sports, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and TheScore Bet. DraftKings and Circa Sports were awarded the two untethered licenses by the Missouri Gaming Commission, meaning they did not need to partner with a casino or pro team to operate. The remaining operators are tethered either to one of Missouri's riverboat casinos or to one of the professional sports franchise districts.

Amendment 2 authorizes up to 14 online sportsbooks total: six tied to casinos, six tied to pro teams, and two untethered. Additional operators are expected to launch through 2026 as the Gaming Commission works through its application backlog. Each casino property and pro team district can also operate a retail sportsbook, for up to 19 retail licenses statewide.

What Makes Missouri Different

Two features set Missouri apart from neighboring markets. First, the untethered license category. Most states require online operators to partner with a casino or track. Missouri set aside two licenses that operators could win through competitive application without any retail tether, which is how Circa landed in the state. Second, the team-tethered model gives the Cardinals, Chiefs, and other franchises direct skin licenses they can use themselves or sub-license to operators. That structure tightly aligns the leagues with the legal market.

How to Sign Up

Missouri allows full remote registration. To open an account, you must be at least 21 years old, physically located inside Missouri at the moment of registration and at the moment of every wager (geofencing enforces this), and able to verify your identity with a government-issued ID and Social Security number. Most operators offer first-bet promotions or deposit matches to new customers. Always read the terms.

Recent News and 2026 Outlook

The first three months of legal Missouri wagering produced strong handle numbers, exceeding initial Gaming Commission projections. The Commission is reviewing additional license applications and expects more operators to go live during 2026. Lawmakers have begun discussing potential adjustments to tax rates and promotional deduction caps in the 2026 session, though no major changes are imminent.

Responsible Gaming

The Missouri Gaming Commission now splits problem-gambling self-exclusion into two official lists: the DAP List for casino gambling and the SEP List for sports wagering. The sports-wagering SEP lasts five years and automatically ends unless you renew it, while the casino-focused DAP is effectively lifetime with a one-time petition option after five years; both remove players from direct marketing and block player-program access. Free help is available through Missouri's 24/7 line at 1-888-BETS-OFF, and NCPG also offers national text/chat support through 800GAM and ncpgambling.org/chat.

The Bottom Line

Missouri is open for business and arrived with a competitive eight-operator launch slate. The untethered license structure produced more brand variety than most new markets see on day one, and bettors have access to mainstream apps like DraftKings and FanDuel alongside specialty options like Circa and TheScore. If you live in or visit Missouri, the legal market is real and ready.