Missouri Joins Legal Sports Betting Arena: Launches with Major Pro Teams Backing

On December 1, 2025, Missouri officially launched legal sports betting, becoming the 39th U.S. state to do so since the Supreme Court's 2018 decision allowing states to regulate sports gambling. This development follows the narrow approval of Amendment 2 by Missouri voters in November 2024, which authorized the Missouri Gaming Commission to license both retail and online sports wagering for individuals aged 21 and older.

The path to legalization was marked by significant advocacy from Missouri's professional sports teams. In May 2024, a coalition including the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals submitted over 340,000 voter signatures to place the sports betting initiative on the November ballot. Team mascots participated in delivering the signatures to the Secretary of State, underscoring the teams' commitment to the cause.

The ballot measure, known as Amendment 2, passed with a slim margin of 50.05% in November 2024. Despite the narrow victory, no recount was pursued, and the measure took effect immediately. The initiative was backed by a substantial $43 million campaign funded largely by DraftKings, FanDuel, and Missouri’s six major professional sports teams. Opposition, led by Caesars Entertainment, spent $14 million against the measure.

Under the new law, the Missouri Gaming Commission is authorized to issue licenses for both retail and online sports betting. The framework permits up to 19 retail licenses and 14 mobile licenses. As of the launch date, ten sportsbooks have been approved for temporary licenses, including:

• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• BetMGM
• bet365
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Circa
• ESPN Bet
• Kambi
• Underdog

Notably, bet365 partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the team's first official sports betting partner. This partnership grants bet365 advertising rights on Cardinals radio broadcasts, the team's website, and signage at the ballpark, including naming rights to the stadium's bet365 Bridge seating and hospitality deck.

To promote responsible gambling practices, the Missouri Gaming Commission has implemented several consumer protection measures, including:

• Age verification systems
• Secure payment processes
• Self-exclusion tools

Additionally, the law imposes a 10% tax on adjusted gross revenue from sports betting. Proceeds are allocated to education programs, with at least $5 million annually earmarked for the state's compulsive gambling fund.

A key provision in Missouri's sports betting law is the prohibition of proposition (prop) bets on individual athlete performances in games involving Missouri college teams. This measure aims to address integrity concerns, especially in light of recent betting scandals involving professional and college athletes.

The legalization of sports betting is expected to have significant economic implications for Missouri. Estimates suggest that the state could see nearly $4.6 billion in bets, generating approximately $518 million in gross revenue annually at maturity. With a 10% tax rate on net revenue after deducting promotional costs, this could result in around $35 million in annual tax revenue.

Socially, the launch coincides with heightened interest in local sports teams. The Kansas City Chiefs are in the playoff race, and the St. Louis Blues are in mid-season play, providing residents with immediate opportunities to engage in legal sports wagering.

Missouri residents now have the opportunity to legally bet on upcoming games involving local teams. For instance, the Kansas City Chiefs have several games scheduled in December 2025:

• December 7: Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs
• December 14: Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
• December 21: Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
• December 25: Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

These games present immediate opportunities for fans to engage with the newly legalized sports betting platforms.

Missouri's entry into the legal sports betting market reflects a growing national trend toward legalized sports wagering. By implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework that includes consumer protection measures and integrity safeguards, the state aims to balance economic benefits with the preservation of sports integrity.