Missouri Sports Betting Debut Praised by Missouri Gaming Commission

Missouri's newly legal sports betting market recorded substantial engagement on its first day. The Missouri Gaming Commission described the rollout as successful and smooth following its launch on December 1. 

The state became the 39th state in the US to offer legalized sports wagering and the first to go live in 2025. Many of the best sports betting sites, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics, activated online sportsbooks at launch, and several also opened retail betting locations.

The Commission noted that the debut marked a key milestone, following voters' approval of a constitutional amendment to introduce sports betting in the 2024 election. It reported that the rules-writing team worked to meet the mandated deadline and establish a regulatory framework aligned with security and fairness requirements. 

The gaming regulator stated that the operational stability on launch for the Missouri sports betting market reflected the thorough preparation.

GeoComply geolocation data indicated strong demand at the market open. The firm recorded roughly 2,600,000 geolocation checks statewide within the first 24 hours and counted more than 250,000 active accounts on launch day for Missouri sports betting apps.

GeoComply's CEO, Kip Levin, commented that the numbers were notable and reflected how rapidly consumers adopted regulated platforms once they became available.

Regional betting patterns shift

The early activity signaled broader changes expected across the Midwest as betting habits adjust. Before the launch, many Missouri residents routinely traveled to neighboring states to place wagers. 

GeoComply measured more than 216,000 active mobile sportsbook accounts in Missouri between Sept. 5 and Oct. 21, 2024, and found over 3,700 users crossed the border to take advantage of Kansas sportsbook promos. More than 2,800 traveled to take advantage of Illinois sportsbook promos. Now residents can take advantage of Missouri sportsbook promos at home.

Economists anticipated that these patterns would shift once Missouri sports betting became accessible within the state. Analysts pointed to Missouri's central location, noting that cross-border movement had long influenced wagering trends. 

Adam Hoffer, director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, said the introduction of legal sportsbooks was expected to alter flows across state lines and give residents easier access to regulated options. Voters approved legalization in November 2024, and many residents preparing for the launch cited convenience as a primary benefit.

State projections estimate around $28 million in annual tax revenue from sports betting. Officials did not expect Missouri to draw a substantial number of out-of-state bettors because it entered the market later than some of its neighbors. 

Following recent tax changes in Illinois, analysts have said it may prompt some residents there to explore Missouri's sportsbooks. Illinois adopted a per-wager tax that Hoffer said could deter high-frequency wagering, potentially encouraging bettors near the border to seek alternatives. 

He added that later entrants, such as Missouri, had the advantage of evaluating existing tax models. However, higher rates could compress operator margins and influence odds in ways that might redirect betting activity across state lines.