Could Missouri Sports Betting Go Live Before the Approaching Royals versus Cardinals Match?
Sports Betting in Missouri and North Carolina: A Comparative Look
In a significant move, North Carolina authorities have allowed sports betting to commence during the NCAA March Madness tournament, reflecting the state's passion for college basketball. Meanwhile, Missouri residents are eagerly awaiting the launch of sports betting in their state, but it seems they will have to wait until December 1, 2025 [1][2][3][4].
Last November, Missouri voters approved a ballot measure legalizing in-person and mobile sports betting statewide. The Missouri Gaming Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the industry, is currently in the process of granting licenses to sports betting operators and finalizing betting rules before the anticipated mid-to-late June launch [6]. However, the official launch date for both retail and online sports betting in Missouri is set for December 1, 2025.
This means that Missouri residents will be able to place bets legally starting in December 2025, but not before. The I-70 series games between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals, which typically occur during the Major League Baseball regular season, will take place before December 1, 2025, and therefore, sports betting will not be live for these games in 2025.
Missouri's Major League Baseball culture is similar to Louisiana's deep-rooted passion for college and professional football. In Louisiana, sports betting was launched with a focus on major NFL games [7]. Ronnie Johns, former Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman, led this initiative.
In Missouri, Gary Jenkins, an attorney and former Kansas City Police Department intelligence detective, has noted that Missourians often cross into neighboring states to bet on sports [5]. This trend is likely to change with the impending launch of sports betting in the state.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, sports betting began in time for the NCAA March Madness tournament, a testament to the state's enthusiasm for college basketball. Larry Henry, a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor with experience in states with gaming, is closely following the developments in North Carolina [8].
Interestingly, sports betting is legal in seven out of eight states that border Missouri, with Oklahoma being the exception. This could potentially lead to increased competition among neighbouring states and potential revenue losses for Missouri.
As the launch of sports betting in Missouri approaches, major sportsbooks like FanDuel have applied for licenses in anticipation of this start date [5]. It is possible that sports betting in Missouri may be live before the MLB regular season, but for now, Missourians will have to wait until December 2025 to legally place their bets.
[1] Missouri Gaming Commission announces sports betting launch date. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.missourigaming.gov/news/press-releases/missouri-gaming-commission-announces-sports-betting-launch-date
[2] Missouri sports betting to launch on December 1, 2025. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/missouri-sports-betting-to-launch-on-december-1-2025/article_50f4c2e0-3f06-5a9f-a76a-0195949a209d.html
[3] Missouri sports betting set to launch in December 2025. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/article264630273.html
[4] Missouri sports betting: What you need to know. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/missouri-sports-betting-what-you-need-to-know/article_7785686b-0d48-5e78-a6e0-d05bb8934902.html
[5] Major sportsbooks apply for Missouri sports betting licenses. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/major-sportsbooks-apply-for-missouri-sports-betting-licenses/article_da5f3f4e-84f8-5d7e-93e5-7c890b581e69.html
[6] Missouri Gaming Commission Chairwoman discusses sports betting launch. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/article264630273.html
[7] Louisiana sports betting launched with focus on major NFL games. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_9a90770a-a899-5018-8112-d2450d5c6a9e.html
[8] North Carolina sports betting begins in time for NCAA March Madness tournament. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.wral.com/north-carolina-sports-betting-begins-in-time-for-ncaa-march-madness-tournament/19827586/
Sportsbooks like FanDuel have applied for licenses in anticipation of the December 1, 2025, launch of sports betting in Missouri, while sports betting in North Carolina commenced during the NCAA March Madness tournament. Gary Jenkins, an attorney and former Kansas City Police Department intelligence detective, believes this trend is likely to change with the impending launch of sports betting in Missouri.
