17-05-2025
When can you bet on sports in Missouri? Gaming commissioner speaks out
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Back in November, the sports betting measure on Missouri ballots passed. The initiative voters approved said sports betting has to be in place by December 1.
It's taken every bit of that time, but why?
Since November, the Missouri Gaming Commission has been creating rules, including how people are going to wager and where those wagering locations will be. It's the application phase not just for sports betting, but for all gambling in the state of Missouri.
Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan Zimmerman says it's a very involved process, and she's confident people have been anticipating the date for some time now.
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'Well, I think that the reason that everyone's so interested right now is that, you know, there was a lot of hope that we would be able to, to be up and running by maybe the World Series or maybe the start of the football season,' she explained.
'And, you know, the staff just feels, no matter how they do the math, that we're just not going to be able to do it before December 1.'
Zimmerman also mentioned that whether casinos or sports teams, as the initiative petition also provided a 'sports district' surrounding a stadium (400 yards out from the stadium), will be known as a sports wagering district.
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'First, we had to create those rules and, you know, create all of the rules that are associated with, you know, how people are going to wager, you know, where those wagering locations were going to be,' Zimmerman continued.
'The Gaming Commission is dedicated to making sure that, you know, no one inappropriate gets a license. That, you know, we vet all those people and we check financial background and criminal history.'
The application period for getting a sports wagering license has now officially opened, with sports betting set to begin on December 1. According to the gaming commission's website, the application period opened yesterday.
'The application period for all licenses opens on May 15, 2025. Applications for the two available Direct Mobile Licenses shall be due by July 15, 2025. Applicants for Direct Mobile Licenses shall have an opportunity to appear before the Commission on August 13, 2025. More information on this process will be provided at a later date. The Commission shall announce the two applicants selected for the available Direct Mobile Licenses on August 15, 2025. For all other Retail and Mobile Licenses, an applicant must submit a completed application by September 12, 2025, if the applicant wishes to offer sports wagering beginning on December 1, 2025.'
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