Missouri Set to Become 39th US State to Legalize Sports Betting

In November 2024, Missouri voters passed Amendment 2, which made both online and in-person sports betting legal following years of debate over tax rates, video lottery terminals, and government control. As of December 1, 2025, sports betting will be legal in the state located in the Midwestern United States.

After a razor-thin vote in November 2024, residents of Missouri officially approved the legalization of sports betting via Amendment 2. The outcome — 1,478,652 to 1,475,691 — passed by only 2,961 votes, underscoring the contentious road to approval.

Now, after months of regulatory work and license application reviews, the state is ready: both online and retail sports wagering will go live statewide starting December 1, 2025.

Pre-registration began on November 17 — giving bettors the opportunity to set up accounts, make deposits, and secure welcome bonuses ahead of launch day.

What to Expect in “Show-Me State”

The rollout is backed by a diverse group of prominent sportsbooks expected to operate once gambling goes live. Among them: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, Circa Sports, and others.

The wagering market will be regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC), which has issued both mobile and retail licenses — including “untethered” mobile licenses that don’t require a casino or pro-team partnership.

Missouri plans up to 14 licenses total (six casino-affiliated, six tied to pro teams, plus two untethered mobile licenses). Retail betting will be available at selected casinos and team venues — though wagering on in-state college sports remains TBD.

Why December 1 — and What’s Big Picture

The December 1 launch is carefully timed to coincide with high-demand periods: college bowl games and the lead-up to the NFL playoffs. Many sportsbooks kicked off marketing campaigns to capitalize on football fans.

Regulators and operators used the months after approval to build infrastructure, finalize partnerships, and secure licenses — including notable deals such as bet365 partnering with the St. Louis Cardinals, and DraftKings receiving one of the untethered mobile licenses.

As of September 2025, Missouri’s sports betting status is “Legal, but not live yet.” The countdown to December fueled anticipation.

US Map: States That Have Legalized Sports Betting (as of late 2025)

• Roughly 39 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have legalized sports betting in some form — either retail, online, or both.
• Of those, approximately 31–32 states currently support online/mobile sports betting via regulated sportsbooks.
• With Missouri going live December 1, the “Show-Me State” will join this growing majority — marking the latest expansion in the post-2018 era of state-level legalization.

This ongoing spread reflects the aftershocks of the landmark 2018 decision by the United States Supreme Court (in Murphy v. NCAA), which struck down the federal ban and allowed each state to regulate sports wagering individually.

What It Means for Bettors (and Market)

• Residents of Missouri will finally get legal access to both online and in-person sportsbooks — no more interstate travel just to place a bet.
• A competitive field of national operators means likely aggressive promotions, welcome bonuses, and an easy entry point for dollar bets in the early days; pre-registrations already underline that trend.
• Expect heavy betting volume when football returns; launch timing suggests sportsbooks are targeting high demand around bowl season and playoffs.
• Regulation via the Missouri Gaming Commission aims to combine convenience with oversight — though details around college betting remain unclear.