Missouri sports bettors will need to exercise patience as the state’s anticipated summer 2025 wagering launch faces significant delays. A procedural dispute between regulatory bodies has pushed the timeline back several months, with sports betting now unlikely to debut until late August 2025 at the earliest.
Emergency Rules Rejected, Standard Process Required
The Missouri Gaming Commission’s (MGC) attempt to expedite the process through emergency regulations hit a roadblock when Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declined to approve their proposal. According to MGC Executive Director Mike Leara, Hoskins’ office simply stated the submission “didn’t meet the requirements under the statute.”
Hoskins later clarified his position, explaining that emergency rules are reserved for situations presenting “immediate danger to public health, safety or welfare” or addressing “compelling governmental interests” requiring immediate action. In his assessment, the sports betting implementation timeline didn’t qualify for this accelerated process.
“The standard rulemaking process is more than capable of achieving the desired outcome within the necessary time frame,” Hoskins stated. “Under the proper procedure, the proposed rules could be effective by September 30, 2025—well ahead of the December 1 deadline.”
Had the emergency rules been approved, Missouri might have launched sports betting within days of their publication. Instead, the state must now follow the traditional regulatory development path, which includes a 30-day public comment period and review by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Impact on Launch Timeline
The regulatory setback means Missouri bettors will likely miss most of the 2025 NFL season, which begins September 4 with the Kansas City Chiefs expected to play in the season opener. Industry experts note that the licensing process alone typically requires several months.
“The average turnaround is about six to nine months from when you get it approved to first bets,” explained Ryan Butler, senior editor at Covers, in comments to local media. This comprehensive process includes licensing investigations, regulatory approvals, and technical testing before operators can accept wagers.
Despite the delay, Missouri’s constitutional amendment mandates that online sports wagering must go live by December 1, 2025. Leara remained confident about meeting this deadline, stating: “We’re going to make it one way or another, but we will make it.”
Missouri’s Betting Framework Takes Shape
Missouri voters narrowly approved sports betting through Amendment 2 in November 2024 with a 50.1% margin. The constitutional change ended Missouri’s status as one of the few remaining states without legalized sports wagering.
Under the approved framework:
- Each of Missouri’s 13 licensed riverboat casinos can apply for both retail and online betting licenses
- Missouri’s six professional sports teams—including the Chiefs, Royals, Cardinals, Blues, City SC, and Current—can establish betting districts near their venues
- Two additional mobile sportsbook licenses will be available unaffiliated with any casino
- A 10% tax on sports betting revenue will fund education, problem gambling research, and addiction treatment programs
The licensing structure has undergone several interpretations, particularly regarding how many online platforms casino companies can operate. “During the campaign, Caesars Entertainment spent $15 million opposing the amendment because it would be allowed only one online platform to cover its three casinos in the state,” Leara noted. “It is now [the attorney general’s] opinion that each parent company gets a mobile license.”
The Path Forward
The proposed rules will be published in the Missouri Register on March 18, initiating a 30-day public comment period. A hearing is scheduled for April 17 in Jefferson City.
Hoskins defended the standard process as essential for public input: “The public deserves to have its voice heard, and it’s crucial that we ensure that this rulemaking process is transparent, thorough, and open.”
While the delay has frustrated industry stakeholders who hoped to capitalize on the entire NFL season, Missouri remains on track to join the growing roster of states with regulated sports wagering before year’s end. Once operational, the market is expected to generate significant revenue and provide Missourians with legal alternatives to offshore betting sites.
Voters Narrowly Approve Sports Betting Legalisation
Missouri is set to join the growing list of states offering legalised sports betting following the razor-thin passage of a ballot measure with 50.05% voter approval. Certified by state election officials last Thursday, this marks a significant milestone for sports enthusiasts and industry stakeholders. While the constitutional amendment takes immediate effect, betting services are not expected to launch until late spring or early summer of 2025.
Record-Breaking Campaigns Drive Approval
The campaign supporting legal sports betting shattered Missouri’s previous fundraising records, amassing $43 million. Leading contributors included DraftKings and FanDuel, who dominated with substantial funding, alongside $2 million in support from Missouri’s professional sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis City soccer team.
St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III highlighted the initiative’s benefits, stating, “Joining the 38 other states that already allow sports betting will enable us to engage more deeply with fans while keeping tens of millions in Missouri for educational and community benefits.”
Opposition, funded mainly by Caesars Entertainment, raised $14 million but failed to prevent the measure’s passage. Caesars, which operates three of Missouri’s 13 casinos, expressed disappointment but has not indicated plans to challenge the results.
Framework for Implementation
Missouri’s constitutional amendment permits sports betting at the state’s casinos and through its professional sports teams. Teams will have exclusive control over betting and advertising within 400 yards of their facilities. Additionally, two mobile operators will receive direct licensing from the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Regulators are tasked with drafting rules, processing licenses, and setting oversight mechanisms to ensure a smooth rollout. The Missouri Gaming Commission expects the industry to be operational well before the constitutional deadline of December 1, 2025.
Tax Revenues and Problem Gambling Initiatives
The approved measure imposes a 10% tax on sports betting revenue, significantly below the national average of 19%. A minimum of $5 million annually will fund programs addressing problem gambling, while the remainder will be allocated to education.
National Context and Future Prospects
Missouri’s entry into sports betting follows a nationwide trend, as 38 states and Washington, D.C., have already legalised the practice since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal ban in 2018. However, major markets like California and Texas remain untapped, with California voters rejecting sports betting proposals in 2022 after an unprecedented $450 million campaign battle between interest groups.
Missouri’s move is expected to generate significant revenue and enhance fan engagement across its professional sports landscape. As the countdown begins for its 2025 rollout, residents can look forward to joining the national sports betting boom.
Missouri voters will have the chance to decide on legalizing sports betting during the November election, following a successful petition by Winning for Missouri Education. The group, backed by state professional sports teams, has gathered over 340,000 signatures, surpassing the required 171,592 to secure a spot on the ballot.
Sports Betting Initiative Gains Momentum
The push for legal sports betting in Missouri, one of the 12 remaining states without this option, could mean significant local revenue earmarked for community and educational improvements. “Missouri took a major step today to ensure that these revenues benefit our communities and classrooms,” spokesperson Jack Cardetti explained.
The campaign emerged after legislative efforts stalled in the Senate, prompting sports teams like the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals to spearhead the move toward a citizen-led constitutional amendment.
Local Teams Rally Behind Betting Proposal
Missouri’s top professional teams, including the Chiefs, who have clinched two Super Bowl titles recently, are strong proponents of the initiative. Despite their successes, fans currently cannot place bets in-state and often travel to neighboring states for online sports wagering.
What’s at Stake in November?
Should the Secretary of State’s office confirm the signatures, Missouri voters will not only elect the next U.S. president but also decide on sports betting. Approval by a simple majority would align Missouri with 38 states and the District of Columbia in regulating this form of gambling.
Under the proposed measure, the state’s 13 riverboat casinos and six professional sports teams would be eligible to offer retail and online betting. The Missouri Gaming Commission could also license two additional mobile betting operators not linked to casinos or sports teams.
Moreover, the first $5 million in tax revenue from sports betting would support problem gambling initiatives, with subsequent funds directed to public education. This referendum represents a pivotal opportunity for Missouri to shape its economic and social landscape through legalized sports betting.