Legal Missouri Gambling

Missouri Gambling

What types of gambling are legal in Missouri?

Missouri offers a wide range of legal gaming options. There is a state lottery. Horse racing is legal both at the track and on mobile devices. Riverboat casinos are available in most major cities. All casino games are legal in Missouri at these properties. There are also charitable gaming and daily fantasy sports contests.

One form of gambling noticeably absent from Missouri is sports betting. The state legislature has tried to legalize it since the US Supreme Court overturned the federal Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act. The attempts have been unsuccessful. 

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This list shows the types of gambling found in Missouri and where to find it:

  • Horse racing (live, off-track and mobile)
  • Slots, video poker, live poker and table games (riverboat casinos)
  • Bingo and raffles (charities)
  • Lottery (instant games and lotto at retailers)
  • Daily fantasy sports (mobile)

Missouri Online Gambling

There are two forms of legalized online gambing in Missouri. One is mobile horse racing. TVG and TwinSpires are among the mobile horse betting companies that accept players from New Jersey.

Daily Fantasy sports is permitted and regulated in Missouri. DraftKings, FanDuel and Fantasy Draft accept players from the state.

No other forms of online gambling in Missouri are legal. Offshore poker, casino and sports betting sites that accept players from Missouri are considered to be illegal under Missouri law.

Missouri Online Gambling Laws

Mobile horse racing is legal in Missouri through approval by the Missouri Horse Racing Commission. This form of simulcast betting is available due to the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. 

Daily fantasy sports were legalized in Missouri in 2016. It was called the Missouri Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. The tax rate is 10 percent or $10,000 per year, whichever is lower. Players must be at least 18 years old for both mobile off-track betting and daily fantasy sports contests. 

The Missouri Legislature has never approved other forms of online gambling. This makes most forms illegal as all legal gaming must be approved by the state legislature and gaming commission. 

Missouri Casinos

There are riverboat casinos throughout Missouri. The games available are typical of a casino. Slots, video poker, live poker and live table games are permitted. Table games include the typical mix, like blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.  

Casino Laws in Missouri

Missouri voters legalized riverboat casinos in 1992. It passed by a 62-38 margin. However, it took a constitutional amendment in 1994 to make the games of chance legal. It was the fifth state to permit casino-style gaming commercially. The tax rate is 21%. There is also a $2 admission charge that goes to the state. It is paid for by the casinos. Players must be at least 21 years old. 

There are no loss or time limits in Missouri anymore. These were dropped through a 2008 statewide referendum. Previously, players were limited to buying in for $500 every two hours. A players card was required to track this. Each two-hour window was a theoretical riverboat voyage.

Missouri Sports Betting

Sports betting is not legal in Missouri. This includes offshore betting sites.

Sports Betting Laws in Missouri

All forms of commercial sports betting are illegal in Missouri under 572.030. The charge is promoting gambling in the first degree. A person found guilty of participating in a bookmaking scheme is guilty of a felony in the state. 

Missouri Poker

Live poker is permitted at licensed casinos through the legislation tied to regulation. There are no bet or pot limits. 

Poker Laws in Missouri

The 1994 constitutional amendment that legalized casinos created poker rooms. Players must be at least 21 years old.

Missouri Daily Fantasy Sports

Fantasy sports are legal in Missouri. There are no limitations. Most major daily fantasy sports companies accept players from Missouri. These include FanDuel, DraftKings and Fantasy Draft. 

Fantasy Sports Laws in Missouri

Commercial fantasy sports contests are legal to operate in Missouri. The businesses are regulated through the Missouri Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Operators pay a fee of 10 percent of gross revenues or $10,000, whichever is less. Fantasy sports players must be at least 18 years old. There are no restrictions on social fantasy sports leagues. 

Missouri Lottery

The Missouri Lottery offers four types of games. Instant games are sold in the form of scratch-off tickets. There are lotto drawings. Charities like fraternal and veterans organizations may sell Missouri Lottery pull tabs. There are also keno drawings every four minutes most hours of the day.

Lottery tickets are only sold at retailers. There are no online sales for the Missouri Lottery. 

Intrastate Lottery Drawings

  • Lotto
  • Show Me Cash

Intrastate Lottery Drawings

  • Lucky for Life
  • Mega Millions
  • Powerball

Missouri Lottery Laws

The Missouri Lottery was approved by voters through Amendment 5 in November 1984. It passed by a 70-30 margin. The first sale was on January 20, 1986. Players must be at least 18 years old. 

Missouri Horse Racing Betting

Bets on horse racing are legal in Missouri. This includes live, off-track and mobile. TVG and Twin Spires accept Missouri players. Mobile betting is the only way to wager on horses today in Missouri. There are no open race tracks or off-track betting parlors. 

Missouri Horse Racing Laws

Missouri horse racing was approved by voters in 1984 through a constitutional amendment. It expanded to the internet through the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. Players must be at least 18 years old. 

Missouri Esports Betting

Betting on eSports through a commercial entity is illegal in Missouri. Social eSports betting is legal.

Missouri Skill Games

Traditional online games of skill may be played for money in Missouri. This includes mobile apps.

Skill-based gaming machines with cash prizes may only be played in a casino. Arcades may offer these games with non-cash prizes. 

Missouri Charity Gambling Law

Missouri charitable gaming is permitted through the 1994 constitutional amendment that expanded gambling to casinos. Charitable games may include bingo, pull tabs and raffles. Players must be at least 18 years old. 

Missouri Gambling Regulators

Missouri Gambling FAQ

Home poker games and all other forms of social gaming are legal in Missouri. This is permitted through an exclusion for these types of gambling in the definition of Missouri 572.010. The games must be fair. The house cannot take a rake or fee for operating the game. All players must have an equal chance of winning.