Those waiting on the launch of Missouri sports betting may have to wait a bit longer.
As first reported by iGaming Business late Friday, the Missouri Gaming Commission’s application for emergency sports betting rules was rejected by Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. The MGC had hoped to launch Missouri sports betting as soon as late-June, but may now have to wait until the fall months.
More on the Missouri sports betting rules denial
Per the iGB report, Sec. Hoskins, formerly a state Senator, ruled that the situation does not merit an “emergency” rulemaking delegation. The proposed rules, he said, must proceed through the state’s standard rulemaking process.
This was affirmed in a statement by Rachael Dunn, Sec. Hoskins’s Communications Director.
“The emergency rules 11 CSR 45-20.020-11 CSR 45-20.130 have been rejected as they do not meet the requirements of Section 536.025, RSMo..” Dunn said in an email to Winners and Whiners Monday. “Standard rulemaking processes will proceed.”
While in the Missouri Senate, Sec. Hoskins loudly opposed several Missouri sports betting bills that made it to his chamber. He maintained that MO sports betting should be coupled with video lottery terminals, or VLT’s, and used his power to help block relevant legislation. This included one bill he himself authored after it was altered by another lawmaker to add sports betting legalization. Sec. Hoskins also opposed Amendment 2, saying the legislation’s 10% tax rate was far too low.
“The Secretary will follow the law,” Dunn said when asked if this action had anything to do with the subject matter. “As stated, the proposed emergency rules did not meet the requirements of state law.”
So when will the industry go live?
Per the terms of Amendment 2, which passed on Election Day, sports betting in Missouri must launch by December. That has not changed. The Show-Me State will see sports betting (and, by extension, Missouri sports betting promos) in 2025.
However, hopes of a summertime launch may need to be revisited. The non-emergency timeline is, unsurprisingly, a longer one. While nothing is certain, the MGC told iGB that this decision pushes things back several months.
A launch prior to the start of the NFL and college football seasons makes business sense. The industry could indeed be live for much of those seasons. However, it’s now possible these 2025 campaigns kick off in late-August and early-September with operators still gearing up for a launch.
This may also mean local baseball fans have to wait until next season to bet on the national pastime. That’s unwelcome news for both backers of the state’s two squads, the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals, and those organizations’ top brasses. Officials of both teams were vocal supporters of in-state sports betting as part of Winning for Missouri Education, the group behind Amendment 2.
