Missouri Approves 10 Sportsbooks Ahead of December Launch

The Show-Me State took another big step towards launching its sports betting market this week.

The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) announced that it has approved 10 sportsbook applications to launch in the state on December 1. This grants those sportsbooks temporary approval, but their controls and house rules will need final approval before the Missouri market goes live.

DraftKings and Circa Sports had already scored approvals for the state’s two untethered licenses. The other eight to receive approval are bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, Kambi (partner TBD), and Underdog.

Kambi, a B2B provider of sports betting services, has yet to reveal which sportsbook it is partnered with. The company has worked with Hard Rock Bet and BetRivers in the past, making them two possible candidates.

The ten sportsbook operators will be able to launch their marketing campaigns on November 17, two weeks before the launch date.

There were no surprises among the approvals, as all the familiar names received them. That, along with the state's 10% tax rate, is expected to lead to a more consumer-friendly market. 

Missouri Approved Underdog Despite Prediction Platform

While Underdog is known for their DFS platform, the operator recently launched a new platform offering sports prediction markets. They are the first sportsbook to enter the emerging industry, which has led to some blowback. 

A few state regulators have warned operators that they could lose their DFS or sports betting licenses if they offer sports prediction markets in any state in the US. 

By approving Underdog’s application, the MGC is showing more acceptance of the controversial new industry. While their stance could change as legal challenges to operators like Kalshi play out, the Missouri regulator has given no indication that they are concerned about Underdog’s new offering.