Missouri Faces Readiness Concerns Ahead of Sports Betting Launch
The legal Missouri sports betting market is set to launch on Dec. 1. Still, experts are unsure if it has the available resources to manage related risks with expanded access to gambling. As much publicity has surrounded the legalization of mobile and land-based sportsbooks, health professionals admonish that round-the-clock betting would amplify gambling problems.
Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) Chair Jan Zimmerman noted that interest among residents is high, with many anticipating the launch since the measure narrowly passed last November, eager to take advantage of Missouri sportsbook promos. However, experts on gambling addiction caution that the issue is not simply how many new people will place bets, but how quickly harmful outcomes may develop once betting can take place at any time and in any location.
Data from a 2022 Kansas City study indicated that over one in five Missouri adults who gamble fit the definition of having a gambling disorder; among those identified as disordered gamblers, more than a quarter reported either attempting or considering suicide.
Access to treatment is limited. The state's last free gambling-specific therapy program closed in 2021, leaving individuals to rely on general counselors or private providers with limited specialization.
Critics, including Kindbridge founder Daniel Umfleet, argue that Missouri has not built sufficient support systems to address the potential surge in demand for treatment once betting expands. The concern is that without new programs, the state may be unprepared for the long-term social impact of its latest market.
Operators line up for entry
While questions about treatment resources persist, preparations for the commercial rollout are advancing rapidly. By the Sept. 12 deadline, the MGC had received over 1,100 filings linked to sports wagering.
This total included over 700 submissions from the best sports betting sites and suppliers, with major companies accounting for the most significant shares. BetMGM submitted nearly 300 applications, Penn Sports Interactive filed 221, Underdog filed 181, and bet365 filed 166.
The state will permit up to 21 operator licenses. Two untethered mobile permits have already gone to DraftKings and Circa Sports.
The remaining 19 licenses will be connected to Missouri's 13 casinos or six professional sports franchises. Several operators have secured market access through partnerships, including FanDuel, which has teamed with St. Louis City SC, bet365 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and BetMGM with Century Casinos. Caesars and Penn's ESPN BET will rely on their casino properties, while Fanatics will work with Boyd Gaming.
