Is Sports Betting Legal in Missouri?

Sports betting is becoming more prevalent throughout the United States, and many people are wondering if it is legal to place bets in Missouri. The answer depends on what type of betting they want to do.

Under federal law it is illegal to accept or place wagers on sporting events within the US, making all forms of online sports betting illegal throughout the US including in Missouri. However traditional land-based sportsbooks are allowed in states that have legalized sports gambling such as Nevada and New Jersey. Currently there are no licensed or regulated land-based sportsbooks available in Missouri.

Legislation has been proposed that would allow for Missouri residents to participate in daily fantasy sports (DFS). This type of gambling involves players selecting real-life athletes and competing with one another based on their performance in actual games or tournaments. While DFS sites remain unregulated at the state level, they can operate legally under an agreement from state gaming authorities and do not violate federal laws. As of 2020 DFS remains legal in Missouri.

So local Missourians can still participate in some forms of gambling such as DFS; however when it comes to placing bets on sports events taking place within the US there is still a ban enforced by federal law and any form of online sports betting remains prohibited throughout the nation. Fortunately various states have been granted authorization from Congress allowing them to operate locally regulated sportsbooks within their respective borders – it remains to be seen whether similar legislation will pass for other states like Missouri anytime soon but this could provide insight into how things may soon change nationwide when it comes to legalized sports betting within the US.