Sportsbooks Highlight Local Giving Ahead of Missouri Sports Betting Launch

Missouri’s highly anticipated sports betting market is set to debut on Dec. 1, but before then, major sportsbook operators planning to launch in the state have been increasing their philanthropic efforts by giving back to Missouri communities. 

Notable donations came from FanDuel and DraftKings. FanDuel contributed $300,000 to Budweiser Guns N’ Hoses, a St. Louis charity event put on by the BackStoppers. The annual event, a Thanksgiving Eve boxing fundraiser that pits police and firefighters against each other, provides support for families of first responders who have either been severely injured or killed in the line of duty. 

DraftKings, also preparing for its Missouri sports betting launch, has directed $50,000 to the Veterans Community Project. The organization works to reduce Veteran homelessness through its Tiny Homes initiative, which provides transitional housing and comprehensive services to help residents move toward independent living. 

DraftKings will also mark the start of legal betting with a ceremonial first bet event on Dec. 1 at the Palladium in St. Louis. Former Missouri sports figures Brett Hull, Isaac Bruce, and Tony Gonzalez are scheduled to participate.

These initiatives accompany the state’s broader rollout of Missouri sports betting apps and frame the launch period as one defined not only by new wagering options but also by operators aiming to establish community ties as the market opens.

Underdog withdraws

With just under a week to go before Missouri’s sports betting launch, news broke that only eight operators would be offering Missouri sportsbook promos to residents instead of the original nine, as daily fantasy sports operator Underdog withdrew its license application. 

Confirmed by the Missouri Gaming Commission and reported by local Fox affiliate Fox 2, marks the end of Underdog’s bid to join the state’s inaugural group of legal operators despite its early move into the application process. The decision is part of the company's shift in operations, with more attention to be placed on the growing space of prediction market apps.

Underdog has long operated in Missouri as a licensed daily fantasy sports platform and was among the first applicants, along with DraftKings, to submit a sportsbook license application when the state opened its application process. 

After filing, the company pursued several partnerships to support its launch. It secured a tethered, revenue-share agreement with MLB’s Kansas City Royals and later signed a multi-year marketing deal with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. 

The Royals previously had a non-gambling partnership with Underdog, but their tethered sportsbook license is now available for another approved operator. The Blues' arrangement granted Underdog the right to use the team's intellectual property, video assets, and in-arena elements for promotional purposes.

Underdog also marketed extensively in Missouri ahead of launch, positioning itself as an incoming sportsbook operator. Its withdrawal leaves the state with eight mobile platforms when wagering begins. At the same time, its former partnerships remain in flux as teams evaluate next steps.