On Nov. 5, 2024, Missouri voters approved Amendment 2, which legalized sports betting in the state. This legalization allows both retail betting inside casinos and online betting through apps. However, sports betting activities did not commence immediately.
The Missouri Gaming Commission has picked Dec. 1 as the launch date for both in-person and mobile sports betting. So, the law now allows sports betting, but wagers cannot yet be placed until the official start date.
Timeline: How we got here
The legal developments that led to Missouri sports betting approval began a while back. Between 2022 and 2023, Missouri lawmakers tried several times to pass a sports betting bill. However, every time the bills reached the Senate floor for debate, they did not pass. So, nothing changed at that time.
A major shift came last November. Voters approved Amendment 2. This decision changed the state constitution to allow both in-person and online sports betting. However, many frameworks had to be put in place before betting actually starts.
In 2025, the Missouri Gaming Commission began to accept license applications from operators. There were set deadlines for both retail and mobile applicants. After that, regulators published the final gambling rules. They also confirmed that legal wagering would begin on Dec. 1, once all approvals are complete.
Who is coming to Missouri
Missouri has already approved a group of sportsbooks to prepare for the Dec. 1 launch. Two platforms received untethered licenses. These do not need a casino or team partner. DraftKings Sportsbook and Circa Sports fall into this group.
Most others entered through local partnerships.
- Bet365 Sportsbook partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- BetMGM Sportsbook partnered with Century Casinos.
- Caesars Sportsbook used its Harrah's Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis casinos.
- ESPN BET Sportsbook is entering into a partnership with Penn Entertainment.
- Fanatics Sportsbook partnered with Boyd Gaming.
- FanDuel Sportsbook partnered with St. Louis City SC.
- Underdog Sportsbook partnered with the Kansas City Royals.
Some other brands also plan to file their applications when openings arise. All of these operators are building out their apps and retail locations before launch. What type of rewards will these licensed operators offer? Let us discuss this next.
What promos should bettors expect at launch
When online sports betting hits Missouri in December, several major operators will roll out welcome offers.
- Caesars Sportsbook will likely offer up to $1,000 insurance on your first bet if it loses.
- DraftKings is expected to run a "Bet $5, Get $200-$300 in bonus bets" welcome deal.
- Fanatics Sportsbook may offer "No-Sweat Bets" up to around $1,000; for example, spread out over 10 daily $100 bets.
- Underdog Sportsbook could offer a first-bet relief or deposit-match deal.
- BetMGM and bet365 usually target new states with highly competitive offers, such as large refund bonuses.
There are also some pre-registration bonuses you can claim before Dec. 1. This will allow bettors to sign up early and claim perks ahead of launch.
So, when can you actually bet?
Betting is now legal in Missouri, but you cannot place a bet just yet. The Missouri Gaming Commission has set Dec. 1 at 12:01 a.m. as the start date for both mobile and retail sports betting. Both in-casino and app-based platforms will launch then. You can register and make a deposit weeks before the launch.
If you’re in Tennessee, you can already place your bets legally and safely through one of the state’s many licensed online sportsbooks. Tennessee was one of the first states in the US to adopt a mobile-only sports betting model, meaning there are no physical retail sportsbooks. All wagering happens through apps and websites.
Since its launch in November 2020, the Volunteer State has developed a competitive, well-regulated market overseen by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. Popular operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, and ESPN BET are all live, offering a wide variety of sports and betting options, from NFL and NBA games to college football, golf, and motorsports. Bettors aged 21 and older can register, deposit, and bet anywhere within state lines, making Tennessee one of the most convenient and accessible legal sports betting markets in the country.