PENN to Bring theScore Bet to Missouri as ESPN BET Exits

PENN Entertainment will fill the gap left by ESPN BET's upcoming shutdown by positioning theScore Bet as its sportsbook brand for the launch of legal Missouri sports betting on Dec. 1. Pre-registration opens on Nov. 17, giving customers an early opportunity to set up accounts before the market goes live. 

ESPN is ending its commercial relationship with PENN on the same day Missouri sports betting begins, which means ESPN BET will not be part of the state's initial roster. Instead, ESPN is aligning with DraftKings for future sportsbook activity.

theScore Bet, a Toronto-based sports media and betting platform acquired by PENN in 2021, is expected to take ESPN BET's place in Missouri. The transition requires regulatory clearance, but ESPN BET has previously obtained a tethered license, providing PENN with a pathway to introduce theScore Bet at its Missouri retail partners once the approvals are finalized.

Missouri's operator lineup is set to feature a broad mix of mobile options. DraftKings and Circa have authorization to operate without tethered partners, while FanDuel, bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics hold tethered licenses through local affiliations. 

In daily fantasy sports, Underdog is anticipated to be the primary provider, although DraftKings and FanDuel will continue to run full DFS platforms alongside their sportsbook products.

With theScore Bet replacing ESPN BET and multiple national operators preparing for launch, Missouri's first day of legal wagering is expected to open with a competitive slate of platforms and a plethora of Missouri sportsbook promos.

Lake of the Ozarks casino project nears final approvals

As Missouri readies its sports betting market, a separate gaming project at the Lake of the Ozarks is advancing through local approvals. The Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen voted Wednesday to endorse a group of agreements with the Osage Nation for a proposed $100 million hotel-casino. It's an exciting development for a region without a legal real-money online casino market.

The development would be built on 27.6 acres at Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Business US 54/Osage Beach Parkway, land the Nation purchased in 2021 and is eligible to develop under federal Indian gaming law.

Osage Casinos President Kimberly Pearson attended the meeting to express support for the arrangement, which outlines how the city and the Nation will coordinate the project. The agreements include quarterly payments of 2.5% of adjusted gross gaming receipts, a 1% resort fee tied to hotel transactions, and an annual payment of $100,000 for continuous police services. 

City officials have previously estimated yearly revenue of nearly $1.9 million once the property is up and running.

Lake Ozark will supply water and sewer services at standard municipal rates, and the Osage Nation agreed not to add fuel sales or similar retail buildings on the site. Current plans feature a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, a 150-room hotel tower, 435 parking spaces, and 750 Class II machines. Class III gaming would require a separate compact with the state.

The project now heads to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for trust approval and will also require action from the governor before temporary gaming and complete construction can proceed