Vol. II · Issue 5 · May 2026 Independent · Reader-Supported · 21+ Only

The Show-Me Review

An editorial dossier on the legal Missouri sportsbook market.

By the Editors · Filed from Jefferson City · Updated daily

Six Months In, Missouri's Sportsbook Market Looks Less Like a Boom and More Like a Settling.

The eight licensed operators that went live on December 1, 2025 have settled into a recognisable order — and the headline numbers, once spectacular, are now merely large. This is our running review of who's still worth signing up with, who's coasted on a launch-day bonus, and what the early data says about where Missouri betting is heading.

Missouri's sports-betting market is, on paper, a success. $543 million was wagered in January 2026 alone. More than 520,000 accounts were opened in the first week. Tax revenue is flowing — first to the Missouri Gaming Commission's costs, then to the state's Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund, then to K-12 and higher education. Amendment 2 is doing exactly what its sponsors promised it would do.

What the data doesn't tell you is how different the eight licensed sportsbooks actually are. Bonuses look interchangeable until you read the fine print. App ratings collapse the moment you try to deposit. And the operators that spent the most on launch-day marketing aren't necessarily the ones we'd recommend to a friend.

This page is our continuously updated answer to a simple question: If you're sitting in St. Louis or Kansas City or Springfield and you want to bet on the Chiefs, where should you actually open an account?

8 Operators reviewed
21 Minimum age
10% Tax on GGR
14 License ceiling
Section A · Operator Profiles

The Eight Books on the Card

Every sportsbook licensed by the Missouri Gaming Commission, ranked by the editors after six months of usage. We test apps on launch night and on a slow Tuesday. We chase customer service. We track withdrawal times. The order below reflects that fieldwork, not paid placement.

Ranked №01

DraftKings

Overall Experience

★★★★☆ 4.8 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets

If your first $5 bet wins, you get $200 in bonus bets paid out as eight $25 tokens.

Editor's notes
  • Fastest mobile app in Missouri
  • Deepest live betting markets in the US
  • Untethered license — independent of any retail casino
Min deposit
$5
Cashout
24-72 hours
App rating
4.8 ★
Read the full DraftKings review →
Ranked №02

FanDuel

Mobile Betting

★★★★☆ 4.7 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets

Twelve $25 bonus tokens paid out over the first 14 days, regardless of the qualifying bet outcome.

Editor's notes
  • Most-used sportsbook in the United States
  • Top-rated mobile experience year over year
  • Official partner of St. Louis City SC
Min deposit
$5
Cashout
24-48 hours
App rating
4.8 ★
Read the full FanDuel review →
Ranked №03

BetMGM

Highest Bonus

★★★★☆ 4.6 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets

If your first bet loses, BetMGM refunds your stake (up to $1,500) in bonus bets.

Editor's notes
  • Largest welcome bonus in Missouri ($1,500)
  • Full integration with MGM Rewards loyalty program
  • Retail sportsbook at Century Casinos in Caruthersville and Cape Girardeau
Min deposit
$10
Cashout
24-72 hours
App rating
4.6 ★
Read the full BetMGM review →
Ranked №04

Caesars Sportsbook

Loyalty Rewards

★★★★☆ 4.5 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

$150 in bonus bets credited if your first qualifying wager wins.

Editor's notes
  • Best rewards program in Missouri (Caesars Rewards)
  • Clean, user-friendly mobile interface
  • Retail sportsbooks at Horseshoe St. Louis and Harrah's Kansas City
Min deposit
$5
Cashout
24-72 hours
App rating
4.5 ★
Read the full Caesars Sportsbook review →
Ranked №05

bet365

Easiest Signup Bonus

★★★★☆ 4.5 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

No win required — $150 in bonus bets credited regardless of whether your first bet wins or loses.

Editor's notes
  • Easiest bonus to claim — no qualifying win required
  • Best live streaming of any US sportsbook
  • Global betting leader, finally available in Missouri
Min deposit
$10
Cashout
24-48 hours
App rating
4.5 ★
Read the full bet365 review →
Ranked №06

Fanatics Sportsbook

Merch Rewards

★★★★☆ 4.4 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Bet $30, Get $300 FanCash

Three days of "Bet $10, Get $100 FanCash" — earn up to $300 in FanCash redeemable for sports merchandise.

Editor's notes
  • Earn FanCash redeemable for team merchandise on every bet
  • Rapidly growing US footprint
  • Partnered with Boyd Gaming for retail access
Min deposit
$5
Cashout
24-72 hours
App rating
4.3 ★
Read the full Fanatics Sportsbook review →
Ranked №07

Circa Sports

Sharp Odds

★★★★☆ 4.3 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Check site for latest offer

Circa rarely runs traditional welcome bonuses — they prioritize sharp odds and high limits over promotional spend.

Editor's notes
  • Sharpest odds and lowest hold in Missouri
  • Untethered license — independent operator
  • Trusted by professional bettors and sharp money
Min deposit
$10
Cashout
24-48 hours
App rating
4.2 ★
Read the full Circa Sports review →
Ranked №08

theScore Bet

News Integration

★★★★☆ 4.2 / 5.0 · editorial score
Welcome offer

Check site for latest offer

Promotions vary — check site for current Missouri-specific offers.

Editor's notes
  • Clean modern interface with deep editorial integration
  • Backed by PENN Entertainment and theScore media brand
  • Strong same-game parlay product
Min deposit
$10
Cashout
24-72 hours
App rating
4.1 ★
Read the full theScore Bet review →
Section B · The Ledger

Welcome Offers, Side by Side

A current ledger of every sign-up offer available to a new Missouri bettor as of Vol. II · Issue 5 · May 2026. We update this row by row; the small print is summarised in plain English.

Operator The Offer What It Actually Means Min
DraftKings Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets If your first $5 bet wins, you get $200 in bonus bets paid out as eight $25 tokens. $5
FanDuel Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets Twelve $25 bonus tokens paid out over the first 14 days, regardless of the qualifying bet outcome. $5
BetMGM Up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets If your first bet loses, BetMGM refunds your stake (up to $1,500) in bonus bets. $10
Caesars Sportsbook Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets $150 in bonus bets credited if your first qualifying wager wins. $5
bet365 Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets No win required — $150 in bonus bets credited regardless of whether your first bet wins or loses. $10
Fanatics Sportsbook Bet $30, Get $300 FanCash Three days of "Bet $10, Get $100 FanCash" — earn up to $300 in FanCash redeemable for sports merchandise. $5
Circa Sports Check site for latest offer Circa rarely runs traditional welcome bonuses — they prioritize sharp odds and high limits over promotional spend. $10
theScore Bet Check site for latest offer Promotions vary — check site for current Missouri-specific offers. $10
Section C · The Field Manual

Opening an Account and Placing Your First Wager

A four-step walkthrough for the first-time Missouri bettor, followed by a short glossary of the bet types you'll meet in your first week.

  1. 01

    Choose a Sportsbook

    Pick a licensed Missouri sportsbook from our reviewed list above. Each operator is regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

  2. 02

    Create Your Account

    Provide your name, email, address, phone number, and last four digits of your SSN. Geolocation confirms you're in Missouri.

  3. 03

    Claim Your Bonus

    Enter any promo code during registration or on your first deposit. Each sportsbook has unique welcome offers — compare before committing.

  4. 04

    Fund & Start Betting

    Make your first deposit via bank transfer, debit card, PayPal, or other accepted methods. Most sportsbooks have $5-$10 minimums.

A Pocket Glossary of Wagers

Moneyline

The flat bet on who wins. Odds of −150 mean a $150 stake returns $100; +130 means a $100 stake returns $130. Everything else is a variation on this.

Point Spread

A handicap. If the Chiefs are listed at −6.5, they must win by seven or more for the bet to cash. The half-point eliminates pushes.

Totals (Over / Under)

A single number for both teams' combined score. You're betting that the game is higher- or lower-scoring than the sportsbook thinks.

Parlays

Two or more bets stitched into one ticket. All legs must win. Pays out at a longer price; loses to a single missed leg.

Player Props

Wagers on an individual's stat line — passing yards, points, rebounds. Note: Missouri prohibits player props on athletes from in-state college programs.

Futures

A long-dated bet on a season-level outcome — Super Bowl winner, division champion, MVP. Money tied up for months at a time.

Live Betting

Wagers placed while the game is in progress. Prices move tick by tick; the edge belongs to whoever reacts fastest to the broadcast.

Same-Game Parlays

Multiple bets from a single game combined into one ticket. Correlations are priced in by the book — they look generous, they rarely are.

Section D · On the Card

What's Bettable in Missouri Right Now

Missouri sportsbooks offer the full North American slate — NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL — plus international and niche markets. Here is the bookable inventory, league by league.

🏈

NFL

Chiefs, NFL odds, Super Bowl futures, player props, live in-game betting

⚾

MLB

Cardinals, Royals, run lines, player props, World Series futures

🏀

NBA

Full NBA slate, player props, spreads, totals, MVP futures

🏒

NHL

Blues, puck lines, goalie props, Stanley Cup futures

🎓

College Sports

Missouri Tigers, SEC games. Note: no player props on in-state teams

⚽

Soccer / MLS

Sporting KC, St. Louis City SC, Premier League, World Cup 2026 at Arrowhead

⛳

Golf

PGA Tour, LIV Golf, The Masters, head-to-head matchups, outright winners

🥊

UFC / MMA

Title fights, main cards, round betting, method of victory

Feature · The 2026 World Cup

Arrowhead Joins the World Cup Rotation

For roughly three weeks this summer, the FIFA World Cup will put Kansas City on the same map as Mexico City and Toronto. Every licensed Missouri sportsbook will carry full match markets, side bets, player props, and tournament futures. Expect handle records to be broken; expect the lines on local matches to be sharper than usual.

Section E · By Statute

The Law, in Plain English

A short reference on what Amendment 2 actually permits, who regulates the market, and where the tax revenue ends up.

§ 2

Amendment 2 (Nov 2024)

The voter-approved constitutional amendment that legalised online and retail sports betting in Missouri. Passed with roughly 50.05% support, after a campaign backed by major operators and the state's professional franchises.

§ 313

Regulatory authority

The Missouri Gaming Commission — five gubernatorial appointees — writes the rules. The Secretary of State approves them. Operators are licensed, audited, and disciplined under this framework.

§ 313.10

Tax and revenue

Operators pay 10% of adjusted gross revenue. Proceeds fund the Commission first, then at least $5 million (or 10% of the remainder) to the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund, then K-12 and higher education.

§ 313.11

Licensing ceiling

Up to fourteen online licences: six tied to retail casinos, six to professional sports franchises, two "untethered" for independent operators. DraftKings and Circa Sports hold the untethered pair.

§ 313.14

College restrictions

College betting is permitted, including on Mizzou. Player-prop wagering on athletes at Missouri-based programs is prohibited. Team-level markets — spreads, totals, futures — remain available.

§ 313.17

Retail footprint

All thirteen Missouri riverboat casinos may host an on-site sportsbook. Professional teams may operate retail books within 400 yards of their venue — a clause that has reshaped game-day foot traffic around Kauffman and Busch.

A Brief Chronology

May 2018

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down PASPA, returning the question to the states.

Nov 2024

Missouri voters narrowly approve Amendment 2 (50.05%).

Aug 2025

DraftKings and Circa Sports receive the first untethered licences.

Nov 17, 2025

Pre-registration opens; 188,000 accounts created before any wager is legal.

Dec 1, 2025

Live launch. More than 250,000 active accounts on day one.

Jan 2026

$543 million wagered in the first calendar month of legal play.

Section F · Reader Mail

Questions We Keep Getting

Compiled from email, comments, and the occasional letter. The answers are short on purpose.

Is sports betting legal in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, and legal online and retail sports betting went live on December 1, 2025. The Missouri Gaming Commission regulates the industry.

How old do I have to be to bet in Missouri?

You must be at least 21 years old to place sports bets in Missouri, whether online or at a retail sportsbook.

Do I need to be a Missouri resident?

No. Anyone 21 or older who is physically located within Missouri's borders can place legal sports bets. Residency is not required.

Which sportsbooks are legal in Missouri?

As of early 2026, eight licensed sportsbooks are live: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, Fanatics Sportsbook, Circa Sports, and theScore Bet. More licenses may be issued in the future.

Can I bet on college sports in Missouri?

Yes, you can bet on college sports including Missouri Tigers games. However, player prop bets involving athletes from in-state college teams are prohibited.

What is the tax rate on Missouri sports betting?

Missouri imposes a 10% tax on operators' adjusted gross revenue. Bettors are responsible for reporting winnings on their taxes, with federal thresholds applying at $600+ or 300:1 odds.

Can I bet on the 2026 World Cup in Missouri?

Absolutely. Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium is hosting World Cup matches in 2026, and all licensed Missouri sportsbooks will offer extensive soccer betting markets.

Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Missouri?

No. Offshore sportsbooks are illegal and unregulated. They offer no consumer protections and using them puts your personal and financial information at risk. Stick to licensed operators.