Sportsbooks granted temporary licenses ahead of Missouri’s December 1 launch

Missouri regulators have given the green light to sportsbook operators, issuing temporary licenses that allow them to prepare for the launch of legal sports wagering statewide on December 1.

The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) announced Wednesday that the operators received provisional approval. Before going live, each sportsbook must secure final approval for its internal controls and house rules.

According to Elizabeth Hoffman, the commission’s public relations coordinator, “These temporary licenses will allow companies to test systems and equipment and make any necessary preparations needed before launching sports wagering on December 1.”

The newly licensed operators include some of the biggest names in the national betting industry. DraftKings and Circa secured untethered mobile licenses, allowing them to operate independently without partnering with a casino or sports franchise. This access comes with a higher licensing fee but spares them from revenue-sharing agreements.

The remaining seven licensees include bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog. These operators are tied to casinos or sports teams as required under Missouri law.

Temporary supplier licenses were also granted to a range of companies that support the betting ecosystem, including BMM Testlabs, Integrity Compliance 360, the International Betting Integrity Association, Genius Sports, GeoComply, Gaming Laboratories International, and Kambi.

Missouri’s path to sports betting has been nearly a year in the making. Voters approved legalization in late 2024, and the MGC opened the licensing process in May 2025. The timeline has involved multiple stages of application, review, and rulemaking.

DraftKings and Circa were granted their direct mobile licenses in August, while all other operators and suppliers were required to submit applications by mid-September to qualify for temporary approvals ahead of launch day.

Under the MGC’s plan, sportsbooks can begin registering Missouri customers and accepting deposits starting November 17, giving operators two weeks to promote their brands before wagering officially begins.

Once live, Missouri will become the 39th U.S. state to offer legal sports betting. Residents aged 21 and older will be able to place wagers either in person at licensed casinos or through approved mobile apps within state lines.

Missouri is surrounded by states that already permit sports betting, including Kansas and Illinois, whose borders align with the state’s largest metro areas, Kansas City and St. Louis. 

Sportsbooks are expected to use the two-week pre-launch window to attract customers ahead of a busy December sports calendar. Missouri’s NFL team, the Kansas City Chiefs, will have several high-profile games eligible for betting following the launch, including their December 7 matchup against the Houston Texans and their Christmas Day game against the Denver Broncos.

The St. Louis Blues will also be in action, hosting the Anaheim Ducks at the Enterprise Center on opening night for Missouri’s new betting market.

For the MGC, the final weeks before December 1 will focus on system testing and compliance verification. All licensees must meet regulatory standards before taking live wagers.