Missourians will have access to legal sportsbooks in time for the holidays, as the state’s gambling regulator has announced that the full launch will take place on December 1.
The Missouri Gaming Commission is now accepting applications from operators that want a license, with 14 online and 19 retail permits up for grabs. The proposal deadline is September 12, and the vetting will take several months to complete.
The commission doesn’t want to rush the process, with Chairman Jan Zimmerman saying that handing out licenses to an unworthy applicant due to subpar investigations or suspect rules “wouldn’t be right.”
initial expectations of an early summer launch
Missourians voted in favor of legalizing sports betting in November, with initial expectations of an early summer launch. This didn’t become a reality as the creation of the regulatory framework took more time than initially thought.
It is expected that most major sportsbook operators will look to enter the Missouri market. Some already have access through relationships with professional sports teams in the state, like the St. Louis Cardinals and bet365.
