Missouri Prepares for Sports Betting Launch

The Chair of the MGC, Jan Zimmerman, confirmed that the commission has received more than 450 license applications.

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: September 4, 2025 12:23 PM EDT • 2 minute read

Missouri Prepares for Sports Betting Launch — Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce spikes the ball in celebration. Photo by Denny Medley-Imagn Images

A legal Missouri sports betting market is just around the corner, with the state set to allow wagers to begin on Dec. 1. In an interview with Missourinet, the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) says preparations are progressing smoothly as applications from operators continue to pour in.

The Chair of the MGC, Jan Zimmerman, confirmed that the commission has received more than 450 license applications,

“We’ve had obviously a significant number of applications and those are to, you know, both the big names that you’ve probably heard of like BetMGM and Underdog (Fantasy) Sports,” she said.

Sports betting will be available at Missouri’s casinos and through mobile platforms. DraftKings and Circa Sports have secured untethered licenses to operate independently. Although rival FanDuel was unsuccessful in its bid, Zimmerman was keen to stress they could still be a significant player.

“They have the opportunity, you know, to still partner with sports teams or casinos here in the state of Missouri. I am confident that, you know, we will see a lot of FanDuel here in Missouri,” she added. FanDuel has since partnered with St Louis City SC to secure a tethered license and join the list of operators that will offer Missouri sportsbook promos at launch.

The launch follows a narrow statewide vote last November in favor of legalization. Revenue generated from sports betting will be directed to Missouri’s compulsive gambling fund and education initiatives, including both K-12 and higher education.

DraftKings and Circa Sports win direct licenses

The award of the two direct licenses for DraftKings and Circa Sports was announced back in August, and means that the two companies can provide mobile betting services without partnering with a casino or sports franchise. DraftKings, which is already active in 28 states that offer sports betting per the legal sports betting states tracker, is expected to expand its sportsbook offerings to pending final regulatory approval.

Circa Sports, meanwhile, which attempted to distinguish itself from competitors by appealing to professional bettors, acknowledged to regulators that its approach may generate less tax revenue compared to larger operators. However, its bid was still impressive enough to earn a license.

“We didn’t win by trying to be the biggest. We won by staying true to who we are, and I want to thank the Missouri Gaming Commission for recognizing that and allowing us to bring the Circa Sports experience to the State of Missouri,” said Chief Executive Officer of Circa Sports, Derek Stevens.

Stevens also explained that Circa Sports had connected with more than 80,000 Missourians through its Club One loyalty program and had made pledges to be involved in local communities and youth sports.

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.