Kansas City Chiefs fans in Missouri eager to legally place bets on Super Bowl LIX will have to wait a little longer as the state continues working through the regulatory process for sports betting. Although voters approved legalization in November’s election, gaming officials emphasize that the process does not take effect immediately.
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is currently reviewing applications and conducting background checks on potential operators. According to Jan Zimmerman, chair of the MGC, the state hopes to have two mobile sports betting platforms up and running by late June, but the final deadline for implementation extends through December under the newly approved regulations.
“It’s not a quick process, not only for sports betting but for any licensing process we do with casinos or other individuals,” Zimmerman said. “It just takes a while to get it done.”
Until then, Missouri residents looking to place bets legally must continue traveling across state lines. Kansas, which legalized sports betting in 2022, remains the most accessible option for bettors in the Kansas City area.
The impact of this delay is evident at businesses like The Peanut, a restaurant located near State Line Road, where staff members routinely watch customers step outside, cross the street into Kansas, and place their wagers before returning. Khalil Booshehri, a restaurant staffer, said the situation frustrates patrons who would prefer the convenience of betting from their seats.
“You’re comfortable, and you have to leave, and you have to come back. It’s just a wrench in their visit,” Booshehri told FOX4. “Until they give it the green light, they just have to keep doing what they’re doing, but if I were the governor of Missouri, I’d say let’s go now.”
With all states bordering Missouri having already approved sports betting, the MGC has been reviewing regulations from neighboring jurisdictions to help shape Missouri’s approach. One key decision still pending is which sports betting platforms will be authorized. Zimmerman confirmed that only two platforms will be approved, but those selections have not yet been finalized.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/31/93646-missouri-sports-betting-launch-to-extend-beyond-super-bowl-as-officials-finalize-regulations
