Missouri’s online sports betting market is off to a strong start, according to the latest activity data compiled by geolocation company GeoComply.
The Show-Me State opened its doors as a regulated sports betting market on Dec. 1, and in the first 24 hours of operations, GeoComply recorded more than 2.6 million geolocation checks through online sportsbooks in the state. The geolocation checks were derived from over 250,000 sportsbook accounts across the state’s eight licensed operators.
“Missouri has shown for years that it’s one of the most eager states in the country for legal sports betting,” said GeoComply CEO Kip Levin. “What we’ve seen in the first 24 hours is remarkable. Tens of thousands of Missourians immediately joined safe, regulated platforms the moment they became legal.”
Missouri operators provided residents in the state with the opportunity to pre-register their accounts ahead of the Dec. 1 launch day. The pre-registration period garnered nearly 188,000 sign-ups. Operators ran the pre-registration period from Nov. 17 through Nov. 30.
“It’s a powerful reminder of how quickly consumers embrace a well-regulated market when the option finally exists,” continued Levin.
GeoComply plans to provide additional insights into Missouri’s adolescent online sports betting market. The company will release data following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Sunday Night Football game on Dec. 7 against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Missouri’s online gaming market
The Missouri Gaming Commission is allowed to issue up to 14 sports betting licenses, but the state made its debut as a regulated market with eight online wagering providers.
Missouri’s gaming regulator awarded two untethered licenses and six tethered licenses, which require operators to partner with an in-state casino or professional sports team.
DraftKings and an unlikely operator, Circa Sports, were awarded the state’s untethered licenses, with both operators paying $500,000 each for a license. By comparison, tethered license holders are required to pay $250,000 due to revenue-sharing agreements.
Missouri’s current tethered license holders include:
- Bet365 (St. Louis Cardinals)
- BetMGM (Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau)
- Caesars (Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis)
- FanDuel (St. Louis CITY SC)
- Fanatics (Boyd Gaming)
- theScore Bet (Hollywood Casino & Hotel St. Louis)
Underdog was expected to launch wagering in Missouri, but the gaming company pulled its license application, the company confirmed to SBC Americas. The company plans to maintain its fantasy operator license in the state, but will not offer sports wagering after being one of the first companies to apply for a license when applications opened.
Instead, Underdog rolled out Crypto.com preediction market contracts in-app in the state.
