Missouri's Exclusive Three Gain Access to Develop New Sports Gambling scene
In a strategic move, FanDuel has announced a partnership with Major League Soccer's St. Louis City SC to secure market access in Missouri, after missing out on one of the two direct mobile sports betting licenses granted by the state. This collaboration will enable FanDuel to offer mobile sports betting through a tethered license model, working alongside the professional sports team rather than holding an independent untethered license.
The state of Missouri has only awarded two untethered mobile sports betting licenses, to DraftKings and Circa Sports. These licenses allow operators to retain 100% of their revenue, subject to state tax. FanDuel, a leading candidate, was not granted an untethered license, necessitating the tethered partnership approach.
Under the tethered license agreement, operators must share revenue with an in-state casino or professional sports team. FanDuel's partnership with St. Louis City SC allows them to launch mobile sports betting in Missouri by the state-mandated launch date of December 1, 2025.
With this partnership, Missouri becomes FanDuel's 25th state of operation. DraftKings, meanwhile, will begin operations in Missouri without a local partner, while Circa will follow a similar path. Other applicants will need similar arrangements with Missouri casinos or professional sports teams to participate in the market.
FanDuel, the U.S. leader in sports betting by market share, has reported strong financial numbers, having reported $1.79 billion in revenue in the second quarter of 2025. Matt Kalish, DraftKings president and co-founder, expressed satisfaction about securing the license, while Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel's president of sports, expressed excitement about partnering with St. Louis City SC.
DraftKings boasts a large user base of over three million monthly average users, and the company plans to compete for early market share in Missouri when betting apps go live. The Missouri sports betting market is expected to be a significant addition to the companies' operations.
