Missouri Sports Betting Continues to Underwhelm in 2026

The Show-Me State is still looking for the windfall of tax revenue it was promised from Missouri’s mobile sports betting market.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has released its February sports betting data, and the numbers weren’t great. The state saw a $276 million handle in February, down almost 30% from January and 50% from December. However, the drop in promo bets led to a spike in tax revenue, generating just under $1.2 million.

Lawmakers have already begun to express concerns about the market’s slow start, but their struggles aren’t uncommon in the US. 

New mobile markets see an influx of promotions and bonuses from operators for the first month or two. Missouri chose to allow sportsbooks to write off those bets, resulting in even less tax revenue. That includes January, when the state only saw $94,278 in revenue.

The timing of the launch also hasn’t helped Missouri’s market. It missed the vast majority of the NFL season, meaning most of its existence has been in a slow time for sports. March Madness will change that, but concerns remain that it won’t be enough to match early projections.

Missouri launched its mobile betting market on December 1, 2025.

Predictions, Framework Blamed for Slow Start

For years, legalizing mobile sports betting has enabled states to tap into a new, significant source of tax revenue. That has helped push legalization, despite the dangers the industry can prevent for residents. 

While Missouri’s slow start isn’t enough reason to panic, growing concerns among lawmakers are justified.

The biggest source of blame is the legal framework around the state’s sports betting industry. It features favorable licensing requirements and pricing, as well as a very low operator tax rate of 10%. The idea was to lure sportsbooks into offering the best odds and promos to customers. However, operators seem to be using the friendly framework to maximize profits while minimizing their tax burdens.

Another factor in the market’s disappointing start is the emergence of sports prediction markets. These platforms allow residents 18+ to legally bet on sports, but aren’t considered a form of gambling under the Commodity Exchange Act. 

The Missouri House is reviewing a bill to more than double the state's tax rate, but it has yet to move out of committee.