Nine major sports betting operators had applied for Missouri sports betting licenses as of 1 p.m. local time Friday, per the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC). This is application deadline day to ensure readiness for the Dec. 1 launch, though the commission said paper applications postmarked by the deadline but arriving later will be accepted, and it expects more applications to roll in before the end of the day. The MGC will provide an updated list early next week.
Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Circa Sports, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, FanDuel, Penn Entertainment (ESPN Bet), and Underdog have all applied. Circa and DraftKings were awarded the state’s two stand-alone mobile licenses Aug. 19. There are up to 19 other licenses, tethered to either an existing casino or qualified professional sports team, available.
Prior to Sept. 1, Caesars Sportsbook, Circa Sports, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports had submitted applications. Bet365, BetMGM, and Penn Entertainment are the latest operators to submit. According to the MGC it had received “734 license applications from sports wagering companies including mobile, retail and supplier license applications” and the number was “growing by the hour.”
Absent from the midday list were several smaller or regional players, including BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, and Sporttrade.
Four operators so far to have retail books
Caesars, Fanatics, and Penn each submitted three applications, with plans to operate digital platforms and two brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. BetMGM submitted two applications. Caesars and Penn will each operate two retail sportsbooks in existing casinos the companies own, while Fanatics previously announced that it will operate physical sportsbooks at two Boyd Gaming properties.
BetMGM will likely operate a retail sportsbook at one of Century Casino’s locations. The two announced a market-access agreement in May.
FanDuel announced market access via Major League Soccer’s St. Louis SC in August, and does not have plans to operate an in-person sportsbook. Bet365 and Underdog have not yet announced market-access agreements. The two brick-and-mortar casinos that applied for licenses — River City Casino and the Argosy — are both owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment.
First US launch in 19 months
All eyes are on Missouri, which will be the first new U.S. jurisdiction to launch digital sports betting since North Carolina launched its market March 11, 2024. Missouri will become the 41st U.S. jurisdiction to offer some form of legal sports betting, and the 33rd to offer digital wagering.
No U.S. states have legalized so far in 2025.
Seven of Missouri’s eight border states have some form of legal sports betting, and six offer digital wagering. Kentucky, which went live in September 2023, is the most recent border state to launch, and rival Kansas launched in September 2022.
In addition to operators, several well-known suppliers, including Gaming Laboratories International, GeoComply, Kambi, Sportradar, and SB Tech also submitted applications.
The commission will meet Sept. 23-24 to review applications and hear from applicants.
