Missouri Awards First Nine Temporary Sports Betting Licenses

The Missouri Gaming Commission has issued the state's first nine temporary online sports betting licenses ahead of its Dec. 1 launch.

The recipients are bet365, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, and Underdog. Each will be allowed to begin operating and offering Missouri sportsbook promos at midnight on launch day, when the market officially opens.

DraftKings and Circa Sports were previously awarded untethered licenses during the summer, allowing them to operate independently of local partners. The remaining licensees were granted tethered licenses, requiring partnerships with Missouri-based casinos or professional sports franchises to enter the market.

BetMGM partnered with Century Casinos in May, while bet365 secured market access through the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this year. FanDuel entered through a deal with MLS team St. Louis City SC, and Fanatics Sportsbook joined via its existing partnership with Boyd Gaming. 

Both ESPN BET and Caesars Sportsbook gained access through Missouri casinos owned by their parent companies, Penn Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment, respectively. PENN operates Hollywood Casino and River City Casinos, while Caesars owns Harrah's Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis. Underdog partnered with the Kansas City Royals for market access.

Ahead of the Dec. 1 launch, Missouri sports betting operators will be permitted to open customer accounts and enable account funding starting Nov. 17. The Missouri Gaming Commission plans to finalize and implement its sports betting regulations on November 30.

Concerns mount over readiness

Despite the detailed preparations, concerns remain about Missouri's readiness to manage the rapid expansion of gambling access. Health advocates have raised questions over whether the state has adequate infrastructure to handle potential increases in gambling addiction once betting becomes available statewide, 24 hours a day.

Missouri Gaming Commission Chair Jan Zimmerman said public enthusiasm is high, with many residents eager for the long-awaited rollout following the narrow passage of the sports betting measure last November. However, addiction specialists emphasize that the challenge lies in the potential speed and scale of harm once mobile wagering becomes available at any time and place.

A 2022 Kansas City research reported that over 20% of Missouri adults who gambled had a gambling disorder. Amongst them, over 25% had tried or thought about suicide. Treatment tailored for a specialized need remains a rarity since the state's last free, gambling-focused therapy service ceased to exist in 2021.

Kindbridge founder Daniel Umfleet and other spokespersons caution that Missouri is not yet in a position to handle a probable increase in problem gambling cases. Without new programs or earmarked funding for prevention and recovery, experts are concerned that the social consequences of legalization may exceed the state's capacity to respond.