Missouri sports fans are counting down to Monday, Dec. 1, when the state officially opens its first legal sports betting market. Voters approved sports wagering last year, and casinos across the state have been transforming their spaces to accommodate both mobile and in-person bets.
Casinos Ready for Physical Betting
At Boyd Gaming’s Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, the casino floor has been redesigned to include a full sportsbook in place of former slot machines. Doug Lang, senior vice president and general manager, said, “It was really important to us to create this entertainment hub right in the middle of our casino.”
Lang emphasized that the team began planning immediately after sports betting was legalized to ensure a communal experience. “Really from day one, we started planning, really, what this experience would look like for our guests,” he explained.
Caesars Digital is also preparing for launch at the Horseshoe Casino in downtown St. Louis. Dan Shapiro, senior vice president and chief development officer, said, “There’s been a lot of preparation over the past year.” He expects many bettors will combine app-based wagers with trips to physical sportsbooks, enjoying the sense of community they offer.
Launch Day Highlights
Missouri’s sportsbooks are welcoming the state’s first wagers with special events and appearances by notable local sports figures. Trent Green, Tony Gonzalez, and Pat Maroon are set to attend launch events, according to SBC, bringing star power to the sportsbooks’ opening day.
Caesars will launch its mobile Caesars Sportsbook at midnight and open in-person sportsbooks at Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis on Monday morning. Christian Okoye will place the ceremonial first bet at Harrah’s, while Trent Green will do the same at Horseshoe before traveling to Harrah’s and the Isle of Capri Boonville as part of a launch-day tour. Caesars will also run a “Party Like a Caesar Super Bowl Promotion” offering a Las Vegas trip for two to Super Bowl weekend for wagers of $5 or more.
DraftKings will host an event at The Palladium in St. Louis featuring Chiefs Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, former Rams star Isaac Bruce, and St. Louis Blues legend Brett Hull. Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson will also attend. DraftKings is donating $50,000 to the Veterans Community Project to support its Tiny Homes initiative.
Fanatics will open brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at Boyd Gaming’s Ameristar Casinos in Kansas City and St. Charles at 4 p.m. CST, accompanied by celebrity appearances and a three-day FanCash Drop for new users. FanDuel is offering a Missouri Super Boost promotion and has contributed $300,000 to Guns ‘N Hoses, supporting families of fallen first responders.
Circa Sports will be active throughout the day, holding an event at the Blues game, while BetMGM, bet365, and theScore Bet are awaiting further launch-day announcements.
Tax Differences and Regional Appeal
Missouri bettors benefit from a tax-free wagering environment, contrasting with neighboring Illinois, where a 50-cent tax per bet applies.
Missouri’s new sportsbooks mark the state as the 39th to offer legalized sports betting, and the first new U.S. market to launch since North Carolina began taking bets in March 2024.
Source:
“Casinos ready to open up sportsbooks across Missouri”, firstalert4.com, November 26, 2025
The post Missouri’s Sportsbooks Open Dec. 1 with Celebrities, Promotions first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.