Missouri Sports Betting Market Set to Take Shape This Month
The Missouri sports betting market is set to take a huge step this month, with the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) granting its initial temporary licenses to allow sports betting in the state. Sports betting licenses will be issued by the regulator on October 22, ahead of the official launch of legal sports betting on December 1.
Eight operators submitted applications for tethered online sports betting licenses, each linked to either a land-based casino or a professional sports team as required under state law. The applicants include BetMGM, bet365, FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, ESPN BET, Underdog, and Kambi.
DraftKings Missouri and Circa Sports received untethered online sports betting licenses in August. FanDuel, which missed out on an untethered license, has applied for a tethered one through its partnership with Major League Soccer's St. Louis City SC.
Several operators have already secured market access deals. BetMGM partnered with Century Casinos, while bet365 aligned with the St. Louis Cardinals.
ESPN BET will operate through Penn Entertainment's Hollywood Casino and River City Casino, and Caesars Sportsbook will enter through Caesars-owned Harrah's Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis. Fanatics Sportsbook partnered with Boyd Gaming to pursue licenses tied to the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and the Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles.
Underdog's entry will come via its partnership with the Kansas City Royals. At the same time, Kambi's plans remain unclear as the technology provider has not disclosed a local partner or specific Missouri strategy.
Missouri casino revenues increase in September
As the launch of Missouri sportsbook promos moves closer to launch day, the state's riverboat casino sector reported steady growth in September. The MGC recorded total revenue of $156.5 million across the state's 13 riverboat casinos, a 4.3% increase from $150 million in the same month last year.
Seven casinos posted year-on-year gains. Ameristar St. Charles led the market with $23.3 million, though its total fell 1% from the previous year. River City Casino rose 5% to $21.5 million, while Hollywood Casino saw a 3% increase to $21 million.
Ameristar Kansas City declined 4% to $15.8 million, and Harrah's Kansas City jumped 20% to $15 million. Horseshoe St. Louis recorded the greatest increase, up 25% to $13.3 million. Argosy Casino fell 3% to $12.1 million, and Bally's Kansas City reported the steepest drop, down 8% to $10.2 million year-on-year.
Slot machines generated $133.5 million, up 5% year-over-year from $128 million, while table games brought in $22.9 million, a 5% increase from $21.8 million. The figures reflect sustained consumer demand in Missouri's casino market ahead of the December sports betting debut.
