With the start of legal sports betting in Missouri now under six months away, momentum is clearly building across the state. The past 10 days have brought important updates — from the first sportsbook applications being filed to market access partnerships starting to surface — signaling real progress in Missouri’s path toward its December 1, 2025, launch date.
Both national operators and in-state entities are positioning themselves as deadlines approach and the regulatory process unfolds. Voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, legalizing both retail and online sports betting. Since then, anticipation has grown rapidly — and now, we’re seeing action.
DraftKings and Underdog File Missouri Sports Betting Applications
The most significant development on Missouri sports betting this past week came with confirmation from the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) that DraftKings and Underdog Sports are the first two operators to submit their applications. These filings come ahead of the critical July 15 deadline for untethered licenses.
Untethered licenses are especially sought after because they allow operators to launch independently, without needing a partnership with a Missouri casino or pro sports team. Only two of these licenses will be issued statewide, making competition fierce. The MGC plans to host public presentations from applicants on August 13, and the two winners will be announced on August 15.
It’s not yet clear whether DraftKings and Underdog are pursuing untethered licenses or whether they have unannounced partnerships. However, both brands are well-positioned: DraftKings has extensive sportsbook experience and a large DFS user base in Missouri, while Underdog is aiming to expand its sportsbook presence beyond North Carolina and its DFS footprint.
More Partnerships Begin to Take Shape
As application deadlines approach, market access deals are coming into focus. Operators that don’t secure one of the two untethered licenses must partner with either a licensed casino or one of Missouri’s six eligible pro sports franchises.
Recent developments include:
- Bet365 has finalized a partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals, gaining entry into the Missouri market via the MLB team’s professional sports district.
- BetMGM has secured its Missouri path through a deal with Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau.
- Additional announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including partnerships with FanDuel, Caesars, ESPN BET, Fanatics, and other notable entities.
These arrangements are critical because Missouri’s betting framework allows for a total of 14 licenses: six tied to casinos, six to professional teams, and two unaffiliated.
Upcoming Deadlines and Launch Schedule
The full regulatory framework is rolling out in stages:
- May 15: Application window opens.
- July 15: Deadline for untethered applicants.
- August 13: Public presentations by untethered applicants.
- August 15: MGC awards the two untethered licenses.
- September 12: The final deadline for all other operators seeking to launch on December 1.
Approved operators will be named all at once, likely in October or early November, giving them several weeks to finalize app rollouts and marketing campaigns ahead of the official launch.
Tax Benefits and Funding for Missouri Programs
One of the biggest long-term wins for Missouri isn’t just about access to sportsbooks — it’s about what the state gets in return.
Missouri’s tax rate on sports betting is set at 10% of adjusted gross revenue. That’s lower than high-tax states like Illinois (up to 40%) but still substantial when applied across a full market of mobile and retail operators.
The structure laid out in Amendment 2 ensures that the revenue generated will be used in key areas:
- First, tax revenue will fund the Missouri Gaming Commission’s regulatory efforts.
- Second, a minimum of $5 million or 10% (whichever is higher) of the remainder will go to Missouri’s Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund.
- Ultimately, the majority of the funds will be allocated to K–12 and higher education initiatives throughout the state.
With projections of millions in annual tax revenue, sports betting is being framed not just as a new form of entertainment but as a source of ongoing public benefit. This point helped push the initiative over the finish line during last year’s ballot campaign.
What Sets Missouri’s Launch Apart
Missouri is the only U.S. state set to go live with sports betting in 2025. That gives it a unique spotlight in the national industry, and sportsbooks are already treating it as a top acquisition market.
Operators are expected to offer pre-launch bonuses to attract early sign-ups. These could roll out in November and might resemble the promotions seen in North Carolina earlier this year, where new users were offered up to $350 in bonus bets for creating an account before launch day.
Also noteworthy:
- DFS brands already operate in Missouri, giving DraftKings, FanDuel, and Underdog a running start with active user bases.
- Missouri’s professional teams will host in-person sportsbooks, offering game-day betting experiences near stadiums in Kansas City and St. Louis.
- Border proximity to high-tax Illinois could help Missouri attract bettors looking for better odds or bonuses, especially after Illinois recently added new taxes to online bets.
What to Expect Next
The coming weeks will bring more applications, partnership announcements, and the final sprint toward the launch. Here’s what bettors and industry observers should watch:
- Whether FanDuel, Caesars, and Fanatics reveal their Missouri partners
- How many operators ultimately pursue untethered licenses
- The pre-launch promotions sportsbooks offer starting this fall
If all continues on schedule, Missouri will be live with both mobile and retail betting on December 1, 2025 — just in time for college football conference championships and the final stretch of the NFL regular season.
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