Missouri nears sports betting launch as nine operators apply for mobile licences ahead of December 1 go-live date
Summary
Nine sportsbook operators have submitted applications to the Missouri Gaming Commission ahead of the state’s September deadline, positioning themselves to launch mobile sports betting from 1 December. DraftKings and Circa have already been granted untethered licences, letting them operate without a local casino or team partner. The other seven applicants — including FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM and bet365 — remain under regulatory review and are expected to receive temporary licences soon if approvals proceed on schedule.
Applications needed to be postmarked by 12 September to meet the cutoff; late filers may miss the December go-live. Several operators plan retail sportsbooks at Missouri casinos, but mobile platforms are forecast to deliver most of the betting handle. Notable market-access partnerships include FanDuel with St. Louis CITY SC, bet365 with the St. Louis Cardinals, BetMGM with Century Casinos, and Fanatics with Boyd Gaming. Underdog applied but had not disclosed a partner by the deadline.
Key Points
- Nine operators applied for mobile licences ahead of the 12 September postmark cutoff.
- DraftKings and Circa have been granted untethered licences so far; seven others are under review.
- Major operators in the mix include FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, ESPN BET, Fanatics and Underdog.
- Several applicants relied on local market-access partners to meet state requirements (eg. FanDuel–St. Louis CITY SC; bet365–St. Louis Cardinals; BetMGM–Century Casinos).
- Temporary licences are expected in the coming weeks; the target launch date for mobile wagering is 1 December.
- Mobile betting is anticipated to drive the majority of volume, though retail sportsbooks at casinos will also open.
- Some operators active in neighbouring states (Hard Rock, BetRivers) had not applied by the deadline.
Content summary
The article reports that Missouri is poised to join the expanding list of US states with legal sports betting after nine operators filed for mobile licences with the Missouri Gaming Commission. DraftKings and Circa stand out as the only two to secure untethered licences so far; other large operators submitted applications backed by partnerships with local casinos or teams to satisfy market-access rules. Regulators expect to issue temporary approvals soon, with mobile wagering set to launch on 1 December if timelines hold. The piece notes the likely dominance of mobile platforms in the state’s betting handle and highlights different operator strategies — from mass-market marketing pushes to Circa’s high-stakes niche approach.
Context and relevance
This is significant for industry observers and operators because Missouri’s market will likely include most national heavyweights, meaning the state could quickly generate substantial betting volume. The story highlights how US market-entry often combines untethered licences and local partnerships, a pattern seen in recent state rollouts. For regulators, operators and investors, the timeline and who secures access are the key takeaways: they indicate marketing spend, potential customer acquisition strategies and where competition will be fiercest.
Why should I read this?
Quick version: if you care about who will be taking bets in Missouri (and who’ll be spending big to get customers), this tells you which firms have filed, who already got untethered licences, and why mobile is where the money will be. Saves you the hassle of trawling the regulator’s filings — we did it for you.