After months of preparation, the sports betting market in Missouri, USA, officially opened at midnight recently, making the state the 39th jurisdiction in the US to legalize sports betting. Eligible residents and visitors can now place bets through online platforms and designated physical locations, marking the official entry of this important Midwestern market into the national sports betting landscape.
Market Launch: Eight Giants Debut with Opening Offers
The launch was impressive, with eight online operators going live simultaneously at 12:01 AM Central Time, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, bet365, Fanatics Sportsbook, Circa Sports, and theScore Bet, which replaced ESPN BET. To attract new users, each operator launched enticing sign-up offers. For example, BetMGM offers "First Bet Loss, Up to $1500 Bonus Bet," and FanDuel offers "Bet $5, Get $300 Bonus Bet." New users must be at least 21 years old and provide a Social Security number, while users with accounts in other states can log in directly but are not eligible for welcome offers.
Regulatory Structure and Tax Usage
The path to legalization of sports betting in Missouri began with the passage of "Amendment 2" by voters in November 2024. The state's regulatory structure is unique, allowing six major professional sports teams to operate sports betting within their venues and manage advertising within a 400-yard radius of the venues. These teams contributed $2 million out of a total of $43 million in promotional activities to promote legalization. The tax rate on sports betting revenue is set at 10%, which is below the national average. According to regulations, at least $5 million annually will be allocated to problem gambling services, with the remainder going to education funding for schools of all levels within the state.
Launch Ceremony and Responsible Gambling
To celebrate the market launch, several operators held grand opening events. DraftKings invited sports legend Tony Gonzalez to make a symbolic bet in St. Louis and donated $50,000. FanDuel donated $300,000 to two charitable organizations. Meanwhile, all operators are required to display responsible gambling tools on their websites and apps, allowing users to set deposit or betting limits, opt for self-exclusion, and access support resources. For professionals interested in comparing responsible gambling policies and tools across different markets, platforms like PASA's official website provide detailed compliance analysis. The market is expected to handle over $4 billion in bets annually, generating more than $50 million in tax revenue for the state government.
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