Missouri Sports Betting & The Best Sports Betting Sites in MO 2021

Like several other US states, Missouri is one of those areas that does not specifically define gambling as being permitted or not. Therefore, online gambling (and various forms of standard betting, too) operate in a sort of gray area within. Offshore sites are functional for Missourians to access, and there are various options in this area to gamble at. However, wanted to know how far Missouri has come in terms of online sports betting options, and sports betting in general, since the overturning of the PASPA law by the Supreme Court.

That’s why we’ll be looking at the state laws relating to gambling in Missouri, both online and offline. And to add to that, we’ve got some recommendations for you on the best online sportsbooks in The Show-Me State. Therefore, if you’re interested in learning more about the options available to you as a Missouri resident, you’ve come to the correct place.

Top 4 Sports Betting Sites For Players From Missouri in 2021

As noted, there are a number of online sportsbooks based offshore that cater to the residents of Missouri. Fortunately, we have a team of sports betting experts who have reviewed and rated these, in a bid to bring you information on the very best ones. These sites aren’t only available to Missouri players, though. They can actually be accessed by bettors across the United States, so if you’re based elsewhere, perhaps you’d like to check into what’s available here. So, let’s have a look at the best sportsbook providers in Missouri.

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Is Missouri Sports Betting Legal? NO!

Missouri Sports Betting

It’s not so relevant to simply focus on sports betting in Missouri, as the state has quite the varied connection with different types of gambling. However, we’ll look at sports betting first and foremost. In 2020, legislators in the state came out quite ferociously, attempting to get sports betting turned into a legal activity. However, it’s turned out that it will need to wait until 2021 before anything moves forward with it.

A committee came together in October to look into the possibility of legalization where sports betting is concerned. Sports betting bills were also pre-filed prior to the year starting, with around six different options being introduced as the legislative session went on. The various bills did display that certain issues need to be thoroughly worked over with regard to sports betting, it was actually expected that one of them would make it through. Missouri was actually labelled by some as one of five states to introduce legal sports betting before the end of 2020, alongside Kentucky, Ohio, Connecticut and Maryland.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to things stalling quite significantly, resulting in a severe delay. Therefore, for the time being, sports gambling – be that offline or online – has yet to be integrated into the state on a legal level. The only real sporting events betting possibilities come in the form of daily fantasy sports (DFS), such as those provided through the DraftKings and FanDuel app. Yet, this is only accessible when visiting the nearby states of Illinois and Iowa. Whether or not sports betting will become a legal entity in 2021 remains to be seen.

Missouri does have a casino industry, although this is entirely based on the rivers that run through the state. A total of 13 riverboats along the Mississippi and Missouri waterways can be accessed by Missourians and tourists. Furthermore, state gambling laws also allow for artificial moats or bodies of water to host riverboat casinos, leading to some bizarre interpretations, to say the least. Unfortunately, casino gaming is suffering from somewhat of a decline in Missouri, which is why many believe that the introduction of sports betting will help.

The issue comes from the fact that Missouri lawmakers can’t seem to agree on which body should regulate this sector. The Missouri Lottery Commission and the Missouri Gaming Commission are both potential regulators for it, but nothing has been set in stone either way. Furthermore, legislators would need to decide whether the state’s integrity fee should be applied to a sports wagering bill that is introduced.

Social casinos are also accessible in the state, with platforms like Double Down, Slotomania and Big Fish all providing their free play services to residents. If other forms of online gambling were to be introduced to The Show-Me State though, these would be the likely operators for such:

  • Pinnacle Entertainment – owner of Ameristar Kansas City and Ameristar St. Charles, River City Casino & Hotel
  • Penn National Gaming – owner of Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa and Hollywood Casino St. Louis
  • Caesars Entertainment – owner of Harrah’s North Kansas City
  • Isle of Capri Casinos – owner of Isle of Capri in Boonville, Isle Casino in Cape Girardeau, Isle of Capri in Kansas City and Lady Luck Casino
  • Tropicana Entertainment – owner of Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
  • Affinity Gaming – owner of Mark Twain Casino and St. Jo Frontier

The state also allows for charitable gambling events to take place, which was legalized in 1980. This also allowed the construction of bingo halls and raffles to occur within Missouri’s borders. In 1986, voters elected to adopt a state lottery to involve themselves in. It was only in 1992 that the first gaming law was approved to allow for riverboat casinos to begin operating on waterways throughout the state.

While that law was actually struck down not long after, in 1994, the Missouri Riverboat Gambling Amendment was passed through and remains in operation today. Three of the state’s casinos actually exist on the border of Missouri, which allows residents of southwestern Illinois, western Kentucky, western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas to cross the state lines and enjoy gaming at such.

Our Recommended Missouri Sports Betting Site

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The Top 4 Out-Of-State Sports Betting Sites Overview

Because online sports betting is not currently a possibility from within Missouri’s state borders, it is necessary for residents to access offshore sites instead. Various platforms exist that offer such, and we have a team that has sorted the best ones out from the pack. Therefore, if you want to join one or more of the best offshore online sportsbooks, we’ve got all the information on them for you here.

1.Bovada Sportsbook – The Best for Low Bonus Wagering Requirements (Welcome Bonus: 75% Up to $750)

There’s an excellent sign-up bonus waiting for you when you register and deposit at the Bovada online sportsbook. And that’s just the start of what makes it such a compelling platform. The great part about that bonus is that it also has low rollover requirement to complete before you can withdraw, though. And speaking of withdrawing, Bovada provides a speedy service for this. Placing your sports bets at this site will allow you to benefit from soft odds in comparison to other sportsbooks, and the promotions are amped up during football season too, making things even better.

The sportsbook at Bovada and some of its football markets

 

What we like:

  • Strong range of online promotions
  • Great sign-up bonus and low rollover
  • Long-running, respected brand
  • 24/7 high-quality support advisors

What we don´t like:

  • Several odds in play for recreational and professional bettors

2. BetOnline Sportsbook – The Best for Offering Large Wagering Limits (Welcome Bonus: 50% Up to $1,000)

BetOnline is pretty much recognized as one of the largest online sportsbooks in existence. That spells great things for Missouri residents, and with some of the largest wagering limits for Americans to benefit from, things get better and better with it. The site incorporates some of the most impressive betting software into its setup, and BetOnline proceeds with posting odds a lot earlier than many other sportsbooks do. The site has been active since 2001, when it was titled as Best Line Sports. It operates out of Panama City, Panama and accepts players from a variety of worldwide locations.

NFL betting options at BetOnline, including the Carolina Panthers

What we like:

  • High wagering limits for bettors
  • Variety of seasonal promotions
  • Appealing welcome bonus up to $1,000
  • Odds posted earlier than other sportsbooks

What we don’t like:

  • Hidden fees for certain payment methods

3. Bookmaker Sportsbook – The Best for a Variety of Supported Payment Methods(Welcome Bonus: 100% Up to $300)

Bookmaker sportsbook may seem like quite a simple name for a sports betting platform, but this brand has been around since 2000. That makes it over 20 years old already, and that’s not something to be sniffed at. Deciding to join this online sportsbook will allow you to bet on various sports, including the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, soccer, golf and so on. It has its headquarters in Costa Rica, supports English, Spanish and Mandarin languages and supplies members with live betting opportunities. Everything occurring at Bookmaker is quite the treat.

Bookmaker Missouri Sports Betting

What we like:

  • Long-running brand with a good reputation
  • Large betting limits for US bettors
  • Supports a variety of payment methods
  • High-quality betting software in action

What we don´t like:

  • Doesn’t work so well for low limit bettors
  • Sharp odds markets in action

4. BetDSI Sportsbook – The Best for Its Large Deposit Bonus and Reload Rewards (Welcome Bonus: 100% up to $2,500)

If you would like to access a site with some wonderful bonuses, including great perks for newcomers, then BetDSI is the route to take. It’s owned by bookmaker.eu, which is one of the largest sportsbooks in the US market, and it also incorporates massive betting limits for American players to benefit from. The site may have a smaller collection of sports and subsequent markets for you to engage in sports wagering on, but this is of little consequence. It has a sportsbook, racebook and casino for you to access, which are all based out of Costa Rica.

BetDSI Missouri Sports Betting

What we like:

  • Large deposit and reload bonus options
  • Owned by the largest sportsbook in the US
  • Massive betting limits in operation
  • Long-running brand name

What we don´t like:

  • Sharp odds markets
  • Perhaps not the best for recreational bettors

How We Rate the Best Missouri Sports Betting Sites

So, is it safe to play at offshore online betting sites from Missouri? Well, absolutely. Is sports betting legal in Missouri? Well, it’s a bit of a gray area, as mentioned. However, if you use one of the recommended online sportsbooks, you’ll have no trouble. That being said, perhaps you have found other sports betting platforms that you’re interested in. If this is the case, then you should check for the following features while considering whether or not to join them:

  • An official gambling license or a good level of repute with bettors
  • A great choice of sports and markets to bet on
  • Mobile compatibility for Android and iOS devices
  • A great choice of special offers for newcomers and regular bettors
  • VIP scheme and/or loyalty rewards program
  • Friendly and dedicated support employees
  • Easy-to-navigate website
  • Strong security measures in place
  • A selection of sought-after supported payment methods to use

What to consider when choosing a Sports Betting Sites

As noted earlier, we have an expert team of bettors that go through the various online sportsbooks available to the residents of Missouri. They check into each of the platforms and then review and rate them. It is this process that allows us to create a “best of” list in relation to these sports betting sites. So, what features do we look out for when deciding on the best Missouri online bookies? Let’s take a look.

Licensed and Regulated

Sportsbooks should hold an official license to ensure that everything taking place at the site is regulated effectively. If a platform does not possess such, then it needs to have a great level of repute with its registered bettors. This way, we’re in-the-know of the fact that they’re satisfied with the self-regulation taking place at the platform.

Banking methods

There are various payment methods in operation statewide, but not all of them are available at every sportsbook. Fortunately, our team has located the sites with the biggest number of supported payment methods. This means that you can transact with credit and debit cards, bank transfers, cryptocurrencies and other options. Payouts should also be quick and easy, resulting in a good experience.

Safety and Security

Safety and security should be paramount, not only to you, but to the online sportsbook you’re signing up to as well. That’s why our experts have located those platforms with the greatest security measures in place. At least this way, you know you’ll be placing bets at a site with data encryption technology in place, a secure server in operation and more.

Bonus and rewards

Signing up for an online sportsbook account as a newcomer should result in an intriguing welcome offer. However, it’s not only new bettors that should be able to benefit from exciting promotions. Ongoing gamblers in Missouri should also be able to claim their own share of rewards. So, we have located the best sports betting promotions, allowing you to obtain perks as you continue placing bets.

Customer support

We may all come to a point of needing some assistance while betting at our chosen online sportsbook. That’s why it’s necessary for a site to incorporate a variety of customer support options. So, we’ve been looking for friendly and helpful advisors, who are reachable through a selection of methods. This should include live chat, telephone support and also email contact.

Range of Betting Markets

It shouldn’t be a sportsbook that only provides betting on two or three different sports, but on a wide variety of such. Therefore, at all of the sites we recommend, you can engage in NHL, NBA, MLB betting and so on. You can even bet on the professional sports teams of Missouri itself, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues, Missouri Tigers and so on. Therefore, the state of Missouri doesn’t hold you back from participating in such betting.

The Future of Missouri Sports Betting & Online Gambling

While legislation that was considered in 2020 permitted interactive wagering platforms to be tethered specifically to the excursion gambling riverboats, this wasn’t something that was passed through. However, it is expected that when MO does introduce legal online sports betting, it will also allow mobile betting to take place. Then again, all of the successful sports betting markets in operation after the cancellation of the PASPA law allow for mobile sports betting.

It’s particularly necessary to allow statewide access to online platforms within Missouri, as some bettors in the state reside up to four hours away from the closest riverboat casinos. The different bills that were introduced as part of the 2020 legislative session had different rules surrounding how many skins could be allowed, too. So, there are various issues and chinks to work out with these before it becomes fully legal.

Where Else is Online Gambling Legal in the US?

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC

Best Online Casinos in Missouri

Perhaps you’ve also got the idea to partake in casino gaming as a Missourian. Well, if this is indeed the case, then we’ve got some guidance for you on this, too. We know of the best online casinos for Missouri residents, so why not check out the top sites that we recommend before joining any?

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The Bottom Line

While Missouri has taken various steps towards a legal and accessible betting industry over the years, various things have stalled the process in recent times. The COVID pandemic in recent times has been an issue with pushing legislation through for sports betting, while issues within potential bills have also halted the advance of online gambling opportunities. Yet, it has various casinos in operation already, so the door remains very nicely open for such to be made possible in the future.

Missouri Sports Betting FAQs

Which Missouri Sports Teams Can Be Wagered on from Offshore Platforms?

A variety of professional sports leagues and teams from the state can be wagered on at offshore platforms. These include the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Royals and so on. Even the MSU Bears and NCAA’s Missouri Tigers are able to be wagered on.

Is It Likely That Legal Missouri Sportsbooks Would Take Business Away from Those in Mississippi?

Despite the fact that these two states are neighbors, it’s unlikely that the introduction of legal sports betting in Missouri would deny Mississippi of any business.

Would It Be Likely That Missouri Sportsbooks Would Accept Transactions in Bitcoin?

It’s highly unlikely that this will be the case. It’s a remote possibility, of course. However, as a general rule, to use cryptocurrencies, you’ll need to visit one of the various offshore platforms instead. Missouri sportsbooks will require more traditional payment methods to be utilized.

Are Winnings from Online Gambling Taxable in Missouri?

For any gambling that isn’t keno, bingo, poker or slot machine gaming, you are required to report winnings of over $600, which will be subject to the tax rate. Slot machines and bingo games require you to report winnings of $1,200 or more. Keno winnings of $1,500 or more should be reported, while poker tournament winnings of $5,000 or more should be reported. While gambling at offshore platforms isn’t specifically legal, winnings still need to be reported to the IRS.

Is Horse Race Betting Permitted in Missouri?

Yes, this is a legal form of betting in the state. Despite the fact that Missouri is quite restrictive when it comes to certain forms of gambling, horse racing isn’t one of them.

What Is the Legal Gambling Age in the State?

To participate in gambling, you must be at least 21 years of age in Missouri.

About Jack Schiffko

Jack S. is a seasoned gambler and writer with over 10 years experience within the iGaming industry. He has written for several online casinos, bookmakers and iGaming news outlets. His favorite subjects are slots and live casino games. Find out what kind of games he recommends and prefers.