Sports Betting Applications in Missouri: Timeline for Launch
Missouri is set to join the ranks of states offering legal online sports betting, with a planned launch on December 1, 2025. The state's gaming commission has been busy reviewing applications for both untethered and tethered licenses, following a phased approach to ensure a smooth and orderly rollout.
Untethered Licenses
The application deadline for untethered licenses was July 15, 2025. Major contenders like Circa Sports, DraftKings, and FanDuel made their case to the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) during a public hearing held on August 13, 2025. The MGC is scheduled to announce the two recipients of the untethered licenses on August 15, 2025. These untethered licenses allow operators to run sportsbooks without having to partner with a land-based casino or professional sports team.
Tethered Licenses
Applications for tethered licenses, which are linked to casinos or professional sports franchises, close on September 12, 2025. So far, only Underdog Sports has applied for one of these tethered mobile licenses, but the market access partner has not been announced yet. The MGC will continue evaluating these applications through mid-September, with the final rulebook expected to be official by August 30, 2025, enabling operators to prepare for launch.
Other expected applicants for tethered licenses include Fanatics Sportsbook, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, and ESPN BET, which is expected to apply via PENN Entertainment. No market access partner has been announced yet for Underdog Sports.
Launch Date
With the regulatory framework in place, Missouri is set to launch legal sports betting on December 1, 2025. Both online and in-person betting will be available, with sportsbooks taxed at 10% of adjusted gross revenue. The revenue will first cover regulatory expenses, with the remaining funds split between initiatives for responsible gambling and statewide education programs.
Caesars Sportsbook will be available through Caesars-owned Missouri casinos, while Bally Bet will be available through Bally's Corporation. Other companies that have applied for untethered licenses include FanDuel, DraftKings, and Circa Sports.
The public comment period for proposed regulations concluded on Wednesday with no significant objections reported. The final rules are expected to be approved and published by the end of September.
This timeline reflects Missouri’s phased approach to licensing and launching legal sports betting in the state, with untethered licenses announced first, followed by tethered licenses, leading up to a December 1 statewide launch. The MGC is expected to announce tethered licensees shortly after the September 12 deadline.
Michael Molter, the author of this article, has a background in scouting college basketball for Florida State University and the University of Alabama.
- The application deadline for untethered sports-betting licenses in Missouri was July 15, 2025, with major contenders like Circa Sports, DraftKings, and FanDuel awaiting the announcement of the two recipients on August 15, 2025.
- Applications for tethered sports-betting licenses, which are linked to casinos or professional sports franchises, close on September 12, 2025, with Fanatics Sportsbook, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN BET via PENN Entertainment, and Underdog Sports (without a market access partner announced yet) among the expected applicants.
- With the regulatory framework in place, Missouri is set to launch legal sports betting on December 1, 2025, with both online and in-person betting available at tax rates of 10% of adjusted gross revenue.
- Gambling enthusiasts in Missouri can look forward to enjoying sports-betting options at Caesars Sportsbook through Caesars-owned Missouri casinos and Bally Bet through Bally's Corporation, also marking the legalization of sports betting in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and other sports within the state.
