When Will Sports Betting Become Legal in Missouri?

Those in Missouri may need to wait until at least August until regulated sports betting kicks off in the Show Me State.

In the wake of an emergency draft of Missouri sports betting rules being rejected by Missouri Sec. of State Denny Hoskins,The Missouri Gaming Commission must wait until the sports betting rules gain state approval before accepting licensing applications from prospective wagering operators.  And now a Aug. 30 launch seems the most likely of scenarios, according to a report from Kansas City (Mo.) TV station KCTV.  This means just in time for college and NFL kickoff.

“In the absence of emergency rules, our timeline is being pushed back months,” the MGC told KCTV. “The Commission will proceed with our proposed licensing rules that were filed at the same time and will become effective Aug. 30, 2025.”

Hoskins reportedly did not like the “emergency” tag applied to a sports betting rules draft presented to him and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe earlier this month.

"(An emergency rule is only warranted if there is) immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare; or the rule is necessary to preserve a compelling governmental interest that requires an early effective date,” Hoskins said, according to SBC Americas.  

“This decision does not impact the ongoing efforts to review and update the state’s gaming policies. The Secretary of State’s office will continue to collaborate with stakeholders as it moves forward with the rule-making procedure.”

By  Gilbert Horowitz Gilbert is the esteemed reporter for Gambling911 covering all gamuts of the industry.  He has been with the site for the better part of a decade.  Gilbert works out of the Miami Beach bureau.