Missouri Gaming Regulators Confirm Sports Betting Launch Date

• The Missouri Gaming Commission today opened its sports betting application window
• All operators must submit license applications by Sept. 12, 2025
• Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan M. Zimmerman said sports betting will launch on Dec. 1

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The Missouri Gaming Commission has officially opened its licensing process for interested sports betting operators, but will be unlikely to launch sports betting in the Show-Me State prior to the constitutional deadline.

The commission will accept applications for tethered and untethered sports betting licenses starting today through Sept. 12, 2025. In total, the commission will be allowed to issue up to 19 retail sports betting licenses and up to 14 online sports betting licenses under the approved framework.

However, the timeline will not allow Missouri sports betting to launch earlier than the Dec. 1, 2025, constitutional deadline, according to the chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission.

No Ability to Start Earlier

Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan M. Zimmerman today told Sports Betting Dime that with the remaining licensing and testing requirements, plus necessary background checks for applicants, the state will not have the ability to launch before the Dec. 1, 2025 deadline.

Zimmerman confirmed the launch date with Mike Leara, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure everything is done right. We would never want to not do our due diligence, not only with sports betting but with anything we do. If somebody ended up being licensed because we didn’t fully investigate, or missed something in the rulemaking, it wouldn’t be right. As disappointing as it may be for some folks that it won’t be until Dec. 1, we’re going to make sure it’s done right,” Zimmerman said.

The Missouri Gaming Commission today released its extensive timeline of the licensing process leading up to the launch date for sports betting. Here is the official timeline for Missouri sports betting licensing:

• May 15: Licensing application period officially opens
• July 15: Licensing applications due for direct (untethered) online sports betting licenses
• Aug. 13: Applicants for direct online sports betting licenses may appear before Missouri Gaming Commission
• Aug. 15: Missouri Gaming Commission announces two selected direct online sports betting license applicants
• Sept. 12: All other partnered retail and online sports betting license applications must be completed
• Dec. 1: Deadline for the launch of Missouri sports betting

Delays in Sports Betting Process

Originally, Zimmerman told Sports Betting Dime she hoped Missouri sports betting would be launched in the early summer months. However, plans were delayed after Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the commission’s proposed emergency sports betting rules and regulations.

The Missouri Gaming Commission delivered the proposed sports betting rules to the Missouri governor’s office last February. However, Hoskins determined after a review of the rules they did not meet the specific criteria for Missouri’s emergency rulemaking process and rejected the proposal.

Historically, lawmakers have typically approved emergency rules for sports betting to allow a state to stay on track for a desired launch date.

Hoskins addressed the decision with Sports Betting Dime, noting the Secretary of State’s office will continue to collaborate with all involved stakeholders as it moves forward with the regular rulemaking procedures.

“According to Missouri State Statute 536.025, the emergency rulemaking process is reserved for situations that require immediate actions. After careful review, we determined that the situation does not meet these urgent criteria. We remain committed to ensure a transparent and thorough process for updating Missouri’s gaming regulations,” he said.

The decision pushed the entire process back by several months.

Sports Betting Partnerships Still Rounding into Shape

Sports betting operators can access the Missouri market through an untethered license or entering into a partnership with one of the state’s six professional sports franchises or one of the 13 brick-and-mortar casinos.

Only two license holders can enter the market without a partnership. They will be announced on Aug. 15, but will launch on the same date as every other license holder.

The remaining retail and online sports betting license holders will have to agree to partnerships to enter the market.

bet365 and the St. Louis Cardinals entered into a sports betting partnership in March. The multi-year partnership will provide the sports betting operator with access to the yet-to-be-launched Missouri sports betting market.

Additionally, an Underdog Fantasy representative confirmed with Sports Betting Dime that the company will also be applying for a license. If approved, Underdog Fantasy would hold four live sports betting licenses across the U.S.

BetMGM also confirmed with Sports Betting Dime it will pursue access to a license, but how it enters the market is unknown. the sports betting operator has yet to settle on a market access partner, despite still having a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to be an official sports betting partner of the NFL franchise.

DraftKings and FanDuel will also undoubtedly pursue licenses, though their access plans have yet to be revealed. The sports betting behemoths donated millions to the campaign to place the successful sports betting voting referendum on the 2024 election ballot.