Missouri Regulators Clear Another Hurdle to Sports Betting Launch

• The Missouri Gaming Commission held a public hearing on its sports betting rules
• Gaming regulators received no public comments
• Submitted online comments will be unveiled during final orders

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The Missouri Gaming Commission cleared another hurdle as the Show-Me State marches towards its late-year sports betting launch.

Missouri gaming regulators Thursday held a public hearing on the state’s proposed sports betting rules. Dozens of rules were brought up for discussion, but nobody from the public submitted any comments.

While comments were submitted online, a Missouri Gaming Commission spokesperson said they will eventually be available in the state’s final sports betting orders.

Missouri Ready for Sports Betting

Despite an early hiccup with the state’s sports betting rules, the process to launch has gone smoothly. Early estimates from Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan M. Zimmerman had sports betting launching in the state in the early summer, but 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.

Zimmerman and the commission eventually confirmed a Dec. 1, 2025 launch, the last allowable day for the state to begin sports betting under the approval legislation.

Application Process Underway

Currently, the Missouri Gaming Commission is accepting sports betting license applications from operators who are partnering with state casinos or professional sports franchises. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 12.

Underdog is the only company to have submitted an application for one of these licenses, but has yet to announced its market access partner.

The gaming commission has also received three applications for two available untethered online sports betting licenses. Circa Sports, DraftKings, and FanDuel are angling for the two valuable licenses which do not require a partnership to do business in the state.

Untethered license holders do not have to partner with any other entity in the state to do business, therefore do not have to share revenues with their market access partner. The commission will award the licenses on Aug. 15.

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.

Here is the remaining Missouri sports betting schedule:

• 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