Missouri’s legal sports betting launch will be delayed past August, state regulators confirmed Monday.
Missouri’s Secretary of State’s office denied requests last week to approve “emergency” rules that would have expedited the sports betting launch process and potentially have books live by as early as June 30.
Days before the Secretary of State's decision, Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) officials advanced the proposed emergency rules and told Covers they were optimistic about the June launch.
Missouri sports betting delay details
The MGC is required by Missouri’s sports betting ballot measure to promulgate regulations such as financial reporting disclosures, sportsbook licensure requirements, and a host of other mandates. The Secretary of State’s office determined the rules did not meet the requirements set in Missouri law to approve such emergency regulations.
Without emergency approval from Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, the rules must go through the standard review process. That sets an expected effective date for rule approval of Aug. 30, the MGC said in a statement.
Missouri's online sports betting launch will be delayed potentially until as late as December 1, 2025, @Covers can confirm; gaming regulators last week had hoped books could go live by June; "emergency" rules were rejected by the MO Sec of States office, leading to the delay
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) February 24, 2025
A former state senator, Hoskins helped defeat sports betting legalization efforts in the legislature multiple times. He pushed to tie sportsbook legalization with regulations for the state’s unregulated “grey market” video gaming terminals, which killed both proposals.
With Hoskins essentially blocking sports betting, the state’s professional sports leagues along with DraftKings and FanDuel worked to put a direct mobile and retail sports betting proposal before voters. The measure survived legal challenges and an opposition campaign from Caesars to narrowly pass and amend the state constitution to permit legal sportsbooks.
All Missouri sportsbook applicants must also go through a licensing approval process. This could push the launch past the opening kickoff of the 2025 college football and NFL seasons, perennially the nation’s two most wagered-upon leagues.
The requirements of the 2024 ballot measure that approved sports betting mandates the first sportsbooks start accepting wagers by Dec. 1, 2025, meaning they are set to capture at least a portion of the upcoming football season even in a “worst case” scenario. This would also allow bettors to wager on the Kansas City Chiefs, the three-time defending AFC Champions, should they make a fourth-consecutive run to the Super Bowl.
Support for the sports betting ballot measure was strongest in the Kansas City metro, which overcame more tepid response in St. Louis area municipalities and opposition in most of the rest of the state.
“In the absence of emergency rules, our timeline is being pushed back months,” the MGC wrote in a statement shared with Covers. “The Commission will proceed with our proposed licensing rules that were filed at the same time and will become effective August 30, 2025.”
“In the meantime, Commission staff will continue working to ensure we meet the constitutionally required start date of sports wagering not later than December 1, 2025.”
Future Missouri sportsbooks
Missouri is still poised to see most major online U.S. sportsbook market share leaders as well as retail sportsbooks at casinos and sports stadiums.
DraftKings, which contributed millions of dollars to bring sports betting to Missouri, confirmed expected plans to launch its mobile book in the Show Me State. FanDuel, the other major contributor to the campaign, is expected to as well.
FanDuel and DraftKings combined have a projected market share of more than 75% in operating states.
BetMGM, the No. 3 operator by handle, also confirmed plans during a recent corporate earnings call it will pursue a Missouri sports betting license. BetMGM has a partnership with the Chiefs and advertises prominently during games at Arrowhead Field, the team’s home stadium.
Caesars, despite opposing the ballot measure, will also likely seek a mobile betting license. The ballot measure language made it appear that casino sports betting licenses were tied to overall ownership groups, not individual casino ownership. Caesars operates three Missouri casinos but under that interpretation, it would only be permitted one mobile betting license.
MGC chair Jan Zimmerman told Covers that the Missouri Attorney General’s office was still reviewing the language to determine license eligibility. There are 13 casinos in Missouri but only six operating companies, meaning there could be up to seven more (or fewer) licenses available.
The minimum would still be 14: six to the casino operators, six to the major pro sports teams, and two more “untethered” licenses that won’t require a partnership with either group. Even with “only” 14 licenses, there will still be opportunities for most major brands, including Fanatics, bet365, ESPN BET, BetRivers and others.
The St. Louis Cardinals are set to open a retail sportsbook near their stadium, joining the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Washington Nationals among MLB teams with sportsbooks next to their home venues. It’s unclear if Missouri’s other major pro teams will follow suit.
Retail betting has become a dwindling revenue source for sportsbook operators, even those at prime stadium locations. Caesars closed its sportsbook at the Cleveland Cavaliers stadium last year and FanDuel shuttered its book at the home of MLS club DC United last week.
