Missouri

Few states remain without any semblance of a sports betting bill, and entering 2024, Missouri is one of those states. Despite countless attempts to get a bill passed, legislative efforts have continually failed. On a positive note, the state is expected to continue trying, so the sports betting drought could be ending within the near future in MO.

With no sports betting bill in action, Missouri bettors are not legally able to bet on any sport. However, they do have an alternative option until a bill can get passed, and that is daily fantasy sports apps. In 2016, the state passed the Missouri Fantasy Consumer Protection Act, which allowed DFS products to obtain operating licenses.

Since then, the state has welcomed eight DFS operators, including Underdog, OwnersBox, DraftKings, FanDuel, and more. Social sportsbooks are also authorized to operate, which means residents of the Show Me State also have access to the Fliff Sportsbook. This remains the extent of gambling in MO since betting on horse races is illegal.

Online sports betting in The Show-Me State

The motivation and support for a sports betting bill to be passed in Missouri have been sky-high for years, yet entering 2024, the Show Me State remains one of the few states without sports betting legislation. Bills regarding sports betting have made their presence known in legislative sessions since 2018. Still, they have consistently fallen short due to some significant disagreements about these bills' exact rules and regulations.

On paper, the state would be fully prepared to launch online and retail sports betting whenever a bill is passed. With 13 casinos spread across MO that fully support the legalization and the professional sports teams in the state that are also pushing for sports betting, Missouri could welcome plenty of big-name online operators.

Like most years dating back to 2018, there are already multiple prepared for the 2024 legislative session, but the volume of bills coming in isn’t the problem, it’s the literature inside the bills that remains the issue.

The earning potential is there for all sides involved with legalized sports betting, but the 2023 legislative sessions in the state were an excellent example of why a deal has to be made. Senator Denny Hoskins blocked any sports betting bill that made progress during the session, even though he supports legalized sports betting.

Hoskins believes that video lottery terminals are a form of gambling, so they should be taxed and included in any sports betting bill. The Senator also believes the casinos have too much say in the proposed tax rate. Discussions on sports betting resumed in 2024, but with 2023’s discussions ending with filibusters, it is hard to imagine the sides coming to an agreement.

Sports betting & gambling legislation in MO

Residents can still enjoy daily fantasy sports apps and social sportsbooks while they hope lawmakers can finally reach an agreement. Outside of those options, though, the gambling scene in Missouri is dryer than the desert, as online casinos, online poker, and even the lottery are outlawed.

Most, if not all, of the markets mentioned above will likely be included in the subsequent gambling bills that enter legislative sessions. Currently, those bills are SB 824 and SB 852, which are the latest bills to be proposed during the 2024 legislative session.

Even with 2023’s legislative session ending with no momentum, the fact that the state keeps trying is a good sign. It is also positive that local sports teams in the state support the passing of a ball, as twelve new ballot initiatives, including four from local sports organizations, were approved for circulation before the 2024 legislative season. These initiatives aim to gather signatures and garner support for legalizing sports betting in the state.

Most recent updates from the MO sports betting & gambling scene

• October 18, 2024: In a highly anticipated matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs will head to San Francisco to play the 49ers this weekend as (+1.5) point underdogs.

• October 11, 2024: With two straight losses at home, the Kansas City Royals have been eliminated from the 2024 postseason.

• October 7, 2024: After a blowout loss to Texas A&M, the Missouri Tigers are now (+500) to make the College Football Playoff.

• October 3, 2024: With a sweep over the Orioles in the Wild Card round, the Kansas City Royals will take on the Yankees in the ALDS. Kansas City is (+180) to win the series.

• September 30, 2024: The Kansas City Royals will head to Baltimore to play the Orioles in the AL Wild Card. Kansas City is (+145) to win the series.

• September 24, 2024: Looking to start the season 4-0, the Kansas City Chiefs will go on the road to LA to take on the Chargers as (-8) point road favorites.

• September 17, 2024: Coming off their first-ranked win of the season, the Missouri Tigers will host Vanderbilt as (-20.5) point favorites in their first SEC game.

• September 10, 2024: A Missouri judge has rejected the impending lawsuit that would have kept the sports betting initiative off the ballot. This means Missouri natives can vote on if they want legal sports betting in November.

• August 26, 2024: A new lawsuit has been filed in Missouri stating Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft did not use the proper method to garner signatures for the sports betting ballot initiative, so the initiative should not be put on the ballot.

• August 22, 2024: It's been reported that DraftKings has donated a little under $6 million to Winning for Missouri Education, the state's ballot initiative for sports betting. FanDuel is also said to have donated $4 million.

• August 13, 2024: Missourians get a chance to vote for the legalization of sports betting in the Show-Me state after the petition regarding adding the matter to a ballot gathered enough signatures for the green light. Around 60% of MO residents, as well as all the state's pro sports teams, reportedly favor allowing sports wagering.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Casinos are present throughout Missouri, with 13 currently operating across the state. Many of these casinos have played a significant role in the creation of sports betting bills for MO since the legalization of sports betting would only improve their business. A majority of the sports betting bills would allow casinos to partner with three online operators.

While Missouri legalized horse racing in the 1980s, it is only legal if it is conducted at a race track, so the fact that MO does not have any racetrack defeats the purpose of its legalization.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Missouri shares borders with eight states, to be exact, and only one of them doesn’t offer legalized sports betting. Oklahoma is the lone state without a sports betting bill, so at the very least, residents of legal gambling age in MO can venture into seven neighboring states and find some form of sports betting.

To get the complete picture of what each state has to offer, you can click on the name below to learn more.

What’s next for MO betting apps?

There has been continuous momentum toward legalizing sports betting in MO since 2019. That momentum will continue in 2024, with two sports betting bills already prepared for the state's yearly legislative session. The support of online operators, casinos, and in-state professional sports teams has existed for a while. It all comes down to whether or not the nitty-gritty details of a bill can be agreed upon.

Until the bills are discussed and residents get a better picture of how close the two sides are to an agreement, they can continue to utilize the numerous DFS products regulated by the state.

Potential sports betting revenue impact on Missouri’s economy

With nothing to show for in Missouri except countless bills thrown to the waste side during legislative sessions, we do not have any statistics or data regarding revenue for sports betting in the Show Me State. It is expected that when a bill does get passed, both online and retail sports betting will be available to bettors, so between that and the support of local professional sports teams, it’s easy to assume that MO would produce substantial monthly numbers for handle and revenue.

All states are different, so there is no way to draw a direct comparison with another surrounding state. Still, for reference, in their most recent monthly revenue report, Tennessee made $49.5 million, Kentucky made $54.5 million, and Kansas made $30.9 million.

When comparing states, Missouri is similar in terms of population, it is no surprise many different parties remain motivated to get the job done. Indiana and Maryland have the closest population to MO, and both states saw over $500 million in handle and $37 million in revenue in their most recent revenue reports.