Missouri Sports Betting Booms a Week After Legalization
The newly launched sports betting sector in Missouri appears to be booming after a strong start to legal wagering, which began on Dec. 1. In just the first week, active bettor accounts more than doubled to over 520,000, according to data from digital location company GeoComply.
NFL action has also been the dominant attraction so far, with the Kansas City Chiefs accounting for the highest number of wagers, followed closely by college football favorites like the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Sportsbook operator DraftKings reported that its biggest early bet was a nine-game NBA parlay that returned $1,929.70. Rival company Caesars saw its biggest early win when a bettor wagered on Michigan State’s live moneyline against Iowa in men’s basketball, pocketing $26,529.35 on a $34,488.15 bet.
Prop bets have also been popular, with Chiefs players such as Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes capturing attention, as well as Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, who scored repeatedly on Thursday Night Football.
Reflecting on the first week of sports betting, the Director of Sports Operations at DraftKings, Johnny Avello, said it had been a thrilling few days in the Missouri sports betting scene.
“As expected, the Chiefs have quickly become the most popular team among bettors statewide. With the NFL playoff push ahead, along with the College Football Playoff, NBA, NHL and college basketball action, it’s an incredible time of year for sports fans,” he said.
Across all Missouri sports betting apps, bettors combined for nearly 18.5 million geolocation checks during the first week as residents signed up with sports betting platforms.
Missouri Gaming Commission hails smooth launch
The Missouri Gaming Commission has also spoken publicly about the rollout of legal sports wagering. Following its debut, the Commission described the rollout as a “successful” one and commended the efforts of both operators and bettors.
Speaking about the launch's progress, the Commission highlighted that over 250,000 betting accounts were active by the end of the first day, and there had been 2.6 million geolocation checks statewide. Residents have clearly been taking advantage of Missouri sportsbook promos.
They also praised staff who had worked on the project, saying, “This smooth launch reflects the tremendous effort and professionalism of our rules-writing staff, who worked tirelessly to meet the constitutional deadline of December 1, 2025. Their dedication ensured that Missouri could implement a fair, secure, and responsible sports wagering framework on time and with confidence.”
Missourians now have access to eight sports betting brands, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics, with online and retail sportsbooks live across the state. It remains to be seen whether the launch of sports betting in the Show-Me state will have an impact on neighboring sectors. Seven of the eight states that share a border with Missouri have legalized sports betting, with Oklahoma being the sole exception.
