Missouri Sets May 15 as Starting Line for Sports Betting License Applications

The Clock Starts Ticking

The MGC confirmed on its website that application forms will be available starting May 15, giving prospective sportsbooks, both retail and online, a green light to gather their paperwork. The window slams shut on August 30, offering just over three months for submissions.

This timeline isn’t random: it’s built to give the commission breathing room to sift through applications, issue temporary licenses, and ensure everything’s squared away for a launch. That date’s non-negotiable, locked in by the state’s constitution after voters gave betting the nod.

Operators eyeing a slice of Missouri’s market will need to hustle. The MGC plans a thorough review, aiming to greenlight temporary licenses post-August 30, with full operations expected to follow by late fall.

Missouri’s Road to Legal Betting

Missouri’s sports betting got the go-ahead on November 5, 2024, when voters passed Amendment 2 by a razor-thin margin: 50.05% to 49.95%.

Certified on December 5, the state joined 38 others in legalizing it, though rollout hit snags. Early hopes of a June 2025 start faded when Secretary of State Denny Hoskins nixed emergency rules in February 2025, citing no urgent need.

That delay pushed the timeline to September 30 at the earliest, but the MGC remains committed to meeting the December 1 deadline. Now, with applications looming, the finish line’s in sight.