Missouri Sports Betting Applications Pass 1K

The race to secure a Missouri sports betting license is on. And it is apparently going to be a fierce one.

According to the Missouri Gaming Commission, they received over 1,100 applications from companies hoping to enter the market as sports betting providers. The review process of these submissions is already underway. While the sheer number is enough for this evaluation to take forever, the commission has set a deadline of October 22 to make their final decisions.

This makes sense. As part of the legalization, sports betting in Missouri is scheduled to go live in December 2025. Letting the applicant selection process leak into November would be cutting it close. Heck, even the current process figures to take the rollout procedure into the 11th hour.

Then again, maybe not. Remember, Missouri sports betting regulators applied for an emergency rule exception. This would have allowed them to launch sports gambling in The Show Me State over the summer. The hope was that they could then schedule their rollout for the peak of betting on the NFL online.

Of course, this emergency exception ultimately was not granted. That has left the Missouri Gaming Commission to work with the December 1, 2025 launch date. And hey, as it turns out, the rejection of that emergency exception may wind up being a blessing in disguise. Interest in entering the Missouri sports betting market is clearly high enough that regulators may need all the time they can get to go through the mountain of applications.

There is a Lot of Competition for Missouri Sports Betting Licenses

The number of submissions no doubt has exceeded expectations. The stakes involved are now also higher.

Missouri has already announced that DraftKings and, most surprisingly, Circa Sports will receive the state’s only two direct mobile licenses. This essentially means they can operate as independent entities in The Show Me State. Everyone else is left to grapple over retail and supplier licenses. Here is Missouri’s official NPR outlet with more:

“The Missouri Gaming Commission received over 1,100 submissions in its latest round of applications, a spokesperson said. The state gambling regulator is vetting those applicants ahead of Oct. 22, when it will issue temporary licenses. Those applications included 39 businesses seeking mobile, retail or supplier licenses. A mobile license allows an operator with a physical presence in the state to facilitate gambling through a website or app. A retail license permits a physical sportsbook through a casino, racetrack or stadium. A supplier license lets a third-party business provide software and data services to mobile and retail businesses. Previously, the MGC announced in August that DraftKings and Circa Sports would receive Missouri’s two direct mobile licenses, also known as untethered licenses. These allow companies to conduct mobile sports wagering without partnering with a Missouri sports team or casino.”

For the time being, it is not clear who the favorites are to land the various licenses. With that said, we have received clarity of how Missouri betting partnerships with pro sports teams will be shaking out.

Partnerships with Pro Sports Teams are Almost Full

Three operators of online sports betting in the United States have already struck agreements with teams in the market.

Bet365 is teaming up with MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals. This has raised some eyebrows among those who are covering Bet365’s continued attempts at expansion. The Cardinals sold over 628,000 fewer tickets this past season than they did in 2024, causing many to worry about the future of the organization. Team president Bill DeWitt III, who was instrumental in orchestrating the push for legal Missouri sports betting, has since said the franchise will redouble its efforts to rekindle fan loyalty. Still, this is a partnership to watch. It is unclear whether Bet365 will get the proper bang for its buck.

After missing out on landing one of two the untethered licenses that went to Circa Sports and DraftKings, FanDuel has entered an agreement with the St. Louis City Soccer Club of MLS. The move has surprised some within the industry. Most believed FanDuel would target a higher-profile franchise following its failed standalone-license bid.

Finally, Underdog just announced a partnership with MLB’s Kansas City Royals at the start of October. The company is among those first identified as one that would aggressively pursue such an agreement. They have really focused on these types of partnerships after needing to shift their business model across plenty of markets, as states have taken more issue with the concept of daily fantasy sports.

Two pro-sports partnerships remain up for grabs at this writing. The St. Louis Blues of the NHL have yet to announce a deal, and more notable, the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL still have not signed a partnership.

The Missouri Sports Betting Timeline Remains the Same

For anyone worried that the number of Missouri sports betting licensing applicants will delay the ultimate launch, you can go ahead and rest easy. The Gaming Commission has no plans to entertain the worst-case scenario.

“We are on [course] to be up and running on December 1,” Missouri Gaming Commission Chair Jan Zimmerman said, via NPR in Missouri.

To be fair, the commission does not really have a choice. The constitutional amendment that legalized Missouri sports betting stipulates the launch come no later than December.

Gambling enthusiasts will nevertheless be thrilled the rollout process is running on schedule. And they might be even happier to learn that they can legally begin signing up for sportsbook accounts on November 17.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: