Missouri’s plan to launch legal sports betting this summer has been delayed after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected an emergency rulemaking request filed by the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC). The decision, announced on February 21, means that regulators must follow the standard rulemaking process, effectively pushing the anticipated June launch to late summer or fall 2025.
Hoskins stated that the proposed emergency rules, which were submitted to Governor Mike Kehoe on January 27, did not meet the legal requirements for emergency approval. “The proposed emergency rules were intended to address specific aspects of gaming regulations. However, following a thorough review, it was concluded that the matter does not meet the criteria for emergency rulemaking according to Missouri law,” Hoskins told iGB.
Under Missouri law, emergency rulemaking can only be granted if there is “immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare” or if the rule is necessary to “preserve a compelling governmental interest that requires an early effective date.” Hoskins determined that sports betting regulations did not meet these conditions, meaning they must proceed through the standard rulemaking process, which includes a public input period.
The MGC had initially targeted June 2025 as the market’s launch date, despite the state’s legal deadline requiring that wagering begin no later than December 1, 2025. Following Hoskins’ rejection, the MGC confirmed that its proposed licensing rules, which were filed alongside the emergency request, will become effective on August 30, 2025.
“In the absence of emergency rules, our timeline is being pushed back months,” the commission stated in an email to iGB. “Commission staff will continue working to ensure we meet the constitutionally required start date of sports wagering not later than December 1, 2025.”
Beyond the delay in approving sports betting regulations, another issue could further complicate the rollout: a potential shift in the interpretation of how many digital betting licenses, or “skins,” casino operators will receive.
Ahead of the November 2024 election, the MGC had interpreted the law to grant one digital skin per physical casino location. This interpretation was welcomed by the industry, as it allowed casino companies operating multiple locations to secure multiple online betting platforms. Caesars Entertainment, which had previously opposed the voter initiative, stood down on its efforts to block legalization after this interpretation was clarified.
However, a February 18 report from industry analyst Ryan Butler suggested that the Missouri attorney general’s office may be reconsidering its position. If the interpretation shifts to one digital skin per company rather than per location, it could significantly impact how Missouri’s casino operators participate in the online sports betting market.
Under typical regulatory procedures, state gaming commissions cannot begin accepting operator applications until final rules are approved. In most cases, this review process takes between 60 and 90 days, meaning that a late August rule approval would place the opening of Missouri’s application window close to the start of the 2025 NFL season, which begins on September 4.
Despite the delays, the MGC remains within the legal timeline established by the state’s December 1, 2025 deadline. Hoskins has been deeply involved in Missouri’s gambling policy debates over the years.
He previously authored multiple legislative proposals attempting to legalize both sports betting and video lottery terminals (VLTs), seeking to tie the two issues together. However, his proposals failed to gain enough support to pass, leading him to filibuster other attempts to legalize sports betting on its own in the Missouri Senate.
Regarding his latest decision, Hoskins defended the rejection of the emergency rule request, stating: “This decision does not impact the ongoing efforts to review and update the state’s gaming policies. The secretary of state’s office will continue to collaborate with stakeholders as it moves forward with the rulemaking procedure.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/02/24/96179-missouri-sports-betting-launch-delayed-as-secretary-of-state-rejects-emergency-rules
