Is Sports Betting Legal In Missouri?

Currently, sports betting is not legal in Missouri.

Missouri has been pushing to legalize sports betting for years, even before the US Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling that struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Despite more than 20 different sports betting bills being proposed, sports betting remains illegal in the state.

Key players, including Missouri’s major sports teams, casinos, and leagues like the NBA and MLB, have backed sports betting legislation. The debate around issues like Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) and tax rates, however, continues to stall progress.

Still, momentum remains strong, and the push for legalization continues.

Show Me State citizens will soon have a say. In September 2024, a ballot initiative allowing voters to decide the future of sports betting in Missouri was confirmed for November 2024, so safe and legal betting may come to the Show Me State soon.

In this guide, we’ll cover the history of sports betting in Missouri, the current legal status of sportsbooks, and the future of wagering in MO.

History of Sports Betting in Missouri

Missouri’s journey to legalizing sports betting has been long and complex, with numerous bills introduced since 2018.

From early legislative efforts to ongoing debates over taxes and integrity fees, this timeline highlights key moments in the state’s push to regulate both online gambling and retail sports wagering.

2018

• January 29, 2018: Representative Bart Korman (R-42nd District) introduces HB 2320 ahead of the upcoming ruling from the Supreme Court on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which would enable states to pass legislation legalizing sports betting.
• February 7, 2018: Representative Justin Alferman (R-61st District) introduces HB 2406 to legalize sports betting with a 6.25% tax rate.
• February 21, 2018: Representative Dean Plocher (R-89th District) and Senator Denny Hoskins (R-21st District) introduce another two sports betting bills, this time supported by the MLB and NBA. The bills, collectively dubbed the Comprehensive Missouri Sports Betting and Sports Protection Act, propose a 12% revenue tax and a 1% integrity fee to be paid from operators to sports leagues.
• March 13, 2018: Lawmakers in the Senate add new language to SB 767, a video gaming bill, to authorize casinos to handle sports betting, including retail betting. Provisions include a $10,000 application fee, a $5,000 renewal fee, a 12% tax rate, and a 2% administrative fee for operators.
• April 4, 2018: Sports betting bills are discussed in a House Committee. HB 2535, Rep. Plocher’s bill, and HB 2406 are recommended.
• May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court overturns PASPA.
• May 18, 2018: None of the proposed sports betting bills are passed as the legislative session ends.
• November 30, 2018: Sen. Hoskins pre-files a new bill for the 2019 legislative session amending HB 2535 to include a 0.5% levy to raise funds for an Entertainment Facilities Infrastructure Fund for the state’s arenas and convention centers.
• December 10, 2018: Representative Cody Smith (R-163rd District) submits HB 119, with a 0.75% royalty fee on wagers for major professional leagues and a 0.25% fee to the NCAA for wagers involving FBS football teams or Division 1 men’s basketball teams, to ensure athletics compliance.

2019

• April 15, 2019: After a House committee, HB 119 progresses to the House for debate.
• December 1, 2019: Two sports betting bills are submitted to the Missouri Legislature for debate. Sen. Hoskins submitted SB 567, while Senator Tom Luetkemeyer (R-34th District) submitted SB 754.

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2020

• January 30, 2020: Another sports betting bill, Representative Dan Shaul’s (R-114th District) HB 2088, proposes legal retail and online sports betting. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shuts down any hope of these bills being passed in the 2020 legislative session.
• December 1, 2020: Sen. Hoskins and Sen. Luetkemeyer submit SB 18 and SB 217, respectively, in the pre-filling window. A third bill from Senator Caleb Rowden (R-19th District), SB 256, is also submitted.

2021

• February 3, 2021: The three sports betting bills are discussed by Senators, leading to SB 98 being brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Senators failed to pass the bill, ending any attempt at legalization in 2021.
• July 22, 2021: Sen. Hoskins announces that he is preparing a bill for the 2022 pre-filing window to legalize sports betting, including esports betting, horse racing, and slot machines at non-casino locations.
• October 6, 2021: Several professional sports teams, including Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St Louis Blues, and St Louis City SC, and gambling operators join to form a lobbying ‘supergroup’ to push for legalized gambling in Missouri.
• October 31, 2021: A ballot initiative to legalize sports betting in MO is submitted by the supergroup. The provision permits professional sports betting but prohibits wagers on collegiate events.

2022

• January 5, 2022: Representative Phil Christofanelli (R-104th District) introduces HB 1066, which calls for a 6.75% tax rate and no requirement for league data.
• January 19, 2022: Senator Dan Hegemen (R-12th District) and Sen. Luetkemeyer introduce SB 1046 and SB 1061, respectively, mirroring the plans put forward by the supergroup.
• January 27, 2022: Sen. Hoskins expresses his concern about the proposed legislation from Sen. Hegeman and Sen. Luetkemeyer and advocates for amendments to include VLTs in the legalization.
• February 23, 2022: The Missouri House Committee discusses two new pieces of sports betting legislation, HB 2502 and HB 2556, and raises concerns about problem gambling, off-site wagering fees, and the bill’s proposed tax rate. It combines the two bills into a single bill, HB 2502, with amendments to raise commitments to responsible gambling.
• March 24, 2022: The Missouri House approves HB 2502 and HB 2556 and sends both to the Senate.
• April 28, 2022: Sen. Hoskins delivers a four-hour filibuster to end the chances of HB 2502 and HB 2556’s passage through the Senate.
• May 4, 2022: A standalone sports betting bill is introduced to the Missouri Legislature, with support from Sen. Hoskins. Despite this, the bill fails to pass by the end of the legislative session.

2023

• January 3, 2023: Representative Dan Houx (R-54th District) introduces a new bill, HB 556. Rep. Christofanelli introduces HB 581, mirroring SB 1046 and SB 1061 from the 2022 legislative session.
• February 8, 2023: During a hearing on the sports betting legislation, player representatives from five major sports leagues call on MO lawmakers to include protections for pro-athletes and their families after online abuse from gamblers.
• February 23, 2023: Three bills, HB 556, HB 581, and SB 30, legalizing online and retail sports betting, are passed by lawmakers in both the Senate and House. SB 1, a bill to legalize VLT systems, fails.
• May 15, 2023: The Missouri Senate does not discuss any of the sports betting legislation passed, and the 2023 legislative session passes without a Missouri sports betting bill.
• September 9, 2023: The Missouri Secretary of State announces that four petitions have been received calling for the legalization of retail and online sports betting.

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2024

• January 4, 2024: Two sports betting bills, SB 852 and SB 824, are introduced to bring legal online sports betting to the Show Me State.
• February 14, 2024: Missouri officials report that over 431,000 attempts to access legal sportsbooks were blocked in MO during Super Bowl weekend.
• May 2, 2024: Missouri pro-sports betting coalition secures the required number of signatures to enter a sports betting initiative on the November ballot.
• August 13, 2024: The Missouri sports betting ballot measure is approved, meaning that voters will have the ability to vote on sports betting in November.

Legality of Sports Betting in Missouri

Missouri is on the brink of legalizing both retail and online sports betting, with strong support from casinos, professional sports teams, and lawmakers.

While neighboring states have already embraced sports wagering, legislative efforts in Missouri have repeatedly stalled, leaving bettors to rely on nearby states or daily fantasy sports (DFS).

Is Sports Betting Legal In Missouri: Retail Sports Betting

Retail sports betting is currently illegal in Missouri, though it could change soon. Despite multiple legislative attempts, including the recent HB 2502, no legal sportsbooks exist at land-based establishments, including casinos.

However, Missouri casinos and professional sports teams strongly support legal sports betting.

Neighboring states like Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa already offer retail sportsbooks, putting pressure on Missouri lawmakers to act. If legalized in the November 2024 ballot initiative, Missouri casinos could partner with operators to launch in-person wagering.

The state’s professional sports teams, part of a lobbying supergroup, are also likely to host retail sportsbooks at their stadiums in future legislation.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Missouri: Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting remains illegal in Missouri despite numerous legislative attempts. Efforts like HB 2502, which nearly passed in 2022, have tried to allow casinos and sports teams to partner with online sportsbooks, including major brands like FanDuel and Caesars, to launch online and mobile wagering in the state.

While HB 852 and SB 824, introduced in 2024, sought to legalize online sports betting, they ultimately failed. Amendment 2, the November 2024 ballot initiative, would bring legal online sports betting to the state via mobile and online sportsbooks.

For now, Missourians must visit nearby states or play legal daily fantasy sports (DFS) games.

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Future of Missouri Sports Betting

The future of sports betting in Missouri is poised for potential change as a ballot initiative set for November 2024 will allow voters to decide on legalization. With strong backing from professional sports teams, casinos, and lawmakers, momentum is building for both retail and online sports betting.

Recent legislative efforts, including bills HB 2331 and SB 852, demonstrate ongoing interest despite past challenges.

As neighboring states embrace sports wagering, Missouri’s push for legal betting continues to gain traction, indicating that the Show Me State may soon join the ranks of states offering regulated sports betting options.

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