The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) Tuesday shared its latest application update, and so far, it has received 1,113 applications for companies involved in sports betting.
The regulator is aiming to launch retail and digital sports betting Dec. 1, and will have up to 21 operator licenses available. Suppliers and vendors must also apply, and companies are also required to submit applications for “key individuals,” usually those with a more than 5% stake in a company, as well as certain other employees.
The deadline for applications to ensure launch by Dec. 1 was Friday, but the MGC said it would accept applications postmarked by that date. According to the update, some of the biggest companies filed multiple applications — including 300 from BetMGM, 221 from Penn Sports Interactive, 181 from Underdog, and 166 from bet365.
Three of those companies have announced plans to operate at least one retail sportsbook, which would require more applications than digital platforms, mostly for personnel. There 10 different application forms on the MGC website.
Two untethered licenses have already been awarded, and the remaining 19 licenses will be tethered to an existing casino or one of six qualified professional sports teams. So far, two operators have announced partnerships with sports teams — FanDuel is partnering with Major League Soccer’s St. Louis SC, and bet365 has market access through the St. Louis Cardinals. The Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, the National Women’s Soccer League’s KC Current, and the St. Louis Blues have not yet announced partners.
Operators to present at MGC meeting
The list of operators is a “who’s who” of major North American companies, including Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Circa Sports, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, FanDuel, Penn Entertainment (ESPN Bet), theScore, and Underdog. Circa and DraftKings were awarded the state’s two stand-alone mobile licenses Aug. 19. Kambi, usually known as an odds and platform supplier, also applied for an operator’s license.
The MGC has meetings scheduled for Sept. 23-24, but agendas are not yet available.
There did not appear to be any additional operator applications in today’s update, but the Century Casino Cape Girardeau was new to the list. BetMGM previously announced market access via the location. Century Casinos operates two locations in Missouri, and BetMGM has plans for a digital platform and to run a retail sportsbook, likely also at the Cape Girardeau location.
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