Missouri Launches Regulated Sports Betting Market

The US state of Missouri has formally opened its regulated sports betting market, with wagering going live on Monday following months of preparation by operators and the Missouri Gaming Commission.

DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and BetMGM are among the first brands to launch in the Show-Me State, while fantasy sports platform Underdog also entered the market at launch.

DraftKings and Circa Sports were awarded the two available direct mobile sports wagering licences, allowing both operators to offer statewide betting services without the need to be tied to a land-based casino.

Elsewhere, BetMGM has partnered with Century Casinos, while Fanatics has aligned with Boyd Gaming to support its Missouri operation.

DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment had already confirmed in November that pre-registration had opened on their platforms ahead of the launch.

Commenting on the rollout, Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital, said:

“Caesars Sportsbook is proud to deliver a premier sports wagering experience to Missouri and a special promotion that’s true to the experience sports fans in the state should come to expect.

“From our intuitive mobile app to our in-person sportsbooks at Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis, we’re committed to providing a secure and responsible way for fans to engage with the sports they love.”

Underdog, which had previously partnered with the St. Louis Blues and the Kansas City Royals to strengthen its presence in the state, has since withdrawn its licence application in order to focus on prediction markets instead.

TheScore Bet and bet365 have also launched operations in Missouri.

According to a survey of 1,000 Missouri residents conducted in September, almost one in four respondents said they were likely or very likely to place a sports bet.