Missouri sports betting will begin in December, giving residents and guests of the Show-Me State the opportunity to utilize online sportsbooks for the first time.
Although sports betting in Missouri is legal, sportsbooks are not quite live. However, the MO sports betting market is quickly taking shape with more sportsbooks being approved for operation.
As the Missouri sports betting launch date approaches, here are key dates, updates, and sportsbook announcements to be aware of.
Missouri sports gambling: Key dates to know
Dec. 1, 2025: The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) expects to officially open the Missouri sports betting market for operation on Dec. 1.
Sept. 12, 2025: The deadline for companies seeking a Missouri sports betting operator’s license in time for the Dec. 1 launch comes and goes.
Aug. 27, 2025: The MGC confirms during a meeting it is on track for its Dec. 1 launch with at least nine sportsbooks expected to be ready.
July 16, 2025: The MGC granted its executive director the authority to issue temporary sports betting operators’ licenses.
May 15, 2025: The MGC confirmed the Dec. 1, 2025 launch date and opened the application window for prospective sportsbook operators.
Jan 27, 2025: The MGC sends its sports betting guidelines draft to the governor’s office.
Nov. 5, 2024: Missouri voters approved Amendment 2, legalizing sports betting throughout the state. Certified results unveiled on Dec. 6, 2024, showed that the Amendment only passed by 2,961 votes (1,478,652 to 1,475,691).
Missouri sports betting update: Future MO sportsbooks
There are two classifications of Missouri online sportsbooks: tethered and untethered.
The two untethered licenses were the most attractive for operators since they did not require companies to secure market-access partnerships with land-based affiliates, whether that be any of the state’s six professional sports teams or 13 retail casinos.
The tethered licenses (19 maximum), conversely, required companies to secure those partnerships to facilitate their entry into the state.
Untethered licenses
Three operators applied for untethered Missouri sports betting licenses. To little surprise, national leaders DraftKings and FanDuel were two of the applicants.
The third was Circa Sports, a Nevada-based operator that is only operational in five states. Circa caters to a more niche clientele, usually professional or large-money bettors, thanks to the sportsbook’s lower vig and higher betting limits.
Circa shocked the gaming industry by receiving approval, alongside DraftKings, from the MGC. The decision meant that FanDuel needed to obtain a land-based partner and to apply for a tethered sports betting license to receive entry into the market.
Tethered licenses
Missouri’s gaming market received interest from many sportsbook companies.
After fielding late applications before the Sept. 12 deadline, required by companies that wanted to launch on Dec. 1, and lots of speculation, the MGC revealed it had granted temporary sportsbook operators licenses to 10 operators—Circa Sports, DraftKings, and eight others.
Temporary operators
The list of the temporarily approved operators, announced on Wednesday, Oct. 22, is as follows:
- bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- Circa sports
- DraftKings
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Kambi
- Underdog Sports
Notably, Underdog is only an approved sports betting operator in one other state (North Carolina). The operator primarily operates as a top daily fantasy sports platform, in competition with PrizePicks.
Missouri sports betting apps: What will be available for December 1?
bet365
Description: bet365 has an enormous presence in Europe and is steadily growing in America. The sportsbook offers tons of betting markets, increasing same-game parlay odds, and more attractive features.
Usual sign-up bonus (pending MO confirmation): Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
BetMGM
Description: The product of one of the biggest gaming brands in the world, BetMGM delivers a plethora of betting options with a sleek gold interface. The operator is one of the “Big Four” in America and is live in more than 20 states.
Missouri pre-launch sign-up bonus (pending confirmation): $200 in bonuses
Caesars
Description: Another member of the Big Four, Caesars recently upgraded its offerings with tons of new markets for bettors in different sports, along with its rewards program. It also unveiled progressive jackpots with increasing prizes the longer the jackpot goes unclaimed.
Missouri pre-launch sign-up bonus (pending confirmation): $400 in bonuses
Circa Sports
Description: Circa is a distinct competitor in the sports betting industry because of its focus on more serious players, featuring a low vig and higher betting limits. However, the company plans to launch a revamped app in multiple states when it goes live as a Missouri sportsbook.
Usual sign-up bonus (pending MO confirmation): None
DraftKings
Description: DraftKings and FanDuel are projected to control nearly three-fourths of the Missouri sports betting market. The platform is sleek and bold, with never-ending options for customers, great promotions, and a streamlined app.
Missouri pre-launch sign-up bonus (pending confirmation): At least $400 in bonuses
ESPN Bet
Description: A relative newcomer in the sports betting scene, ESPN Bet had lofty ambitions when it joined the sports betting space. After initially sputtering, the company has put an emphasis on growing again and has innovative markets, such as “No touchdown scorer” for NFL betting.
Usual sign-up bonus (pending MO confirmation): Bet $10, get $100 and ESPN+
Fanatics
Description: Arguably the most rewarding sportsbook, Fanatics allows customers to accrue “FanCash” with every wager. FanCash can be redeemed at the Fanatics sportsbook, or it can be used to purchase items such as memorabilia from the Fanatics store. It also has creative promotions and was a pioneer of the “Fair Play” deal, which offers customers refunds if bets on players are affected by injuries early in games.
Missouri pre-launch sign-up bonus: $350 in bonuses
FanDuel
Description: The American leader in sports betting, FanDuel has an array of odds, a fast and responsive betting app, and tons of promotions. It also updates odds with extreme speed, making it a preeminent destination for live betting.
Missouri pre-launch sign-up bonus: $400 in bonuses
Kambi
Description: Kambi is not a sportsbook, but a business-to-business technology partner that works with different sports betting platforms. It is unclear what sportsbook they will help operate in Missouri.
Underdog Sports
Description: As mentioned, Underdog is primarily a daily fantasy sports operator. However, it intends to up the ante by offering Missouri users the chance to wager on traditional sports betting odds. The company also recently struck a partnership with crypto.com to deliver prediction markets to its customers.
Usual sign-up bonus (pending MO confirmation): Up to $1,000 in bonuses following first deposit