DraftKings and Underdog First to Apply for Missouri Sports Betting Licenses

The newly opening legal industry has experienced a slow start with few applications.

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: June 20, 2025 3:45 PM EDT • 3 minute read

DraftKings and Underdog First to Apply for Missouri Sports Betting Licenses — Pictured: St. Louis Cardinals players celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski via Imagn Images.

DraftKings and Underdog Fantasy have filed the first applications to operate sportsbooks in Missouri, the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) announced.

Although the commission would not specify the type of licenses they were applying for, the timing suggests they could be seeking one of the two standalone sportsbook licenses available to operators not affiliated with a casino or professional sports franchise. These licenses have an application due date of July 15.

Missouri sports betting law offers two avenues to licensure. The first option is to join forces with one of the state's 13 casinos or six professional sports franchises operating within the state. Thus far, the St. Louis Cardinals have teamed with bet365, and Century Casinos recently signed a deal with BetMGM. Operators taking this path need to file by Sept. 12.

With only two solo licenses available and several partnership opportunities open, the state is in for a fierce application process. Underdog, which already has a live sportsbook in the North Carolina sports betting market and fantasy contests running in Missouri, is the second to express early interest, following DraftKings.

Sports betting goes live in December

The MGC aims to roll out legal sports betting in the state on Dec. 1. The timing of the announcement will cause Missouri bettors to miss much of the 2025 NFL and regular college football seasons and the entire MLB season.

The chosen opening date is two days following the end of the Mizzou football regular season and nearly three months into the NFL season. Despite the waiting period, the window will allow for legal betting on the NFL playoffs and the College Football Playoff.

MGC Chair Jan Zimmerman indicated the commission had attempted to accelerate the rollout via emergency rulemaking, but Secretary of State Denny Hoskins denied it. So, the commission is on the regular rulemaking timeline, and an earlier launch isn't possible.

Missouri bettors and sports fans have been frustrated with the timeline and are anxious to take advantage of Missouri sportsbook promos. However, the state is moving ahead with processing applications for independent and casino-branded mobile sportsbook operators.

Century Casinos agreement to boost BetMGM

Century Casinos announced in late May that it had entered into a long-term agreement with BetMGM to bring its sports betting app to Missouri. The agreement allows BetMGM to provide both mobile and retail sportsbooks under the license of Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau.

The deal includes a revenue-sharing arrangement with Century, a guaranteed minimum payment, and running a retail sportsbook on the property. The agreement will become effective upon receipt of all necessary regulatory licenses and approvals.

Century co-CEOs Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger cited the deal's strategic significance, describing BetMGM as a leader in the sports betting industry. The move is part of a broader initiative in which casinos partner with national operators to quickly achieve market momentum as Missouri prepares to introduce its newly legalized sports betting infrastructure.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.