MGC awards DraftKings and Circa Sports direct sports betting licenses
Direct licenses, which allow operators to begin offering sports wagering in Missouri without a casino or professional sports team partner, cost $500,000 per license for each sportsbook.
Key Points
- DraftKings and Circa Sports were chosen by the MGC in favor of FanDuel, as all three applicants stated its case during an official meeting held on August 13
- The MGC considered aspects such as existing US operations, ability to generate revenue for the state, marketing processes and responsible gambling measures
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) has chosen to award both DraftKings and Circa Sports direct sports betting licenses, granting each operator the ability to offer sports wagering services within the state without a casino or professional sports team partner.
DraftKings, Circa Sports and FanDuel each filed applications for a direct sports betting license in Missouri, having provided reasoning and official statements as part of a Commission meeting held on August 13.
“We’re pleased to secure one of two direct mobile licenses in Missouri — paving the way for us to bring DraftKings’ industry-leading online sportsbook to fans across the state,” DraftKings North America President Matt Kalish said.
“Missouri is home to several professional teams and deeply passionate fanbases, and we look forward to enhancing their sports experience with a dynamic and responsible mobile platform.”
The Flutter Entertainment-owned sportsbook will now be required to form a new collaboration with either a casino property located within the state or a professional sports team such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs or St. Louis Blues.
Direct licenses cost $500,000 per operator whereas indirect licenses, which still require a partnership for the sportsbook to begin conducting operations, cost $250,000 for sportsbooks such as FanDuel.
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“Winning one of Missouri’s first two untethered mobile betting licenses is a great honor. We came in as the long shot against national giants like DraftKings and FanDuel, but our licensure approval today proves there’s room for a different kind of operator,” Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens said.
“We didn’t win by trying to be the biggest. We won by staying true to who we are, and I want to thank the Missouri Gaming Commission for recognizing that and giving us the opportunity to bring the Circa Sports experience to the State of Missouri.”
The MGC considered aspects such as existing US operations, ability to generate revenue for the state, marketing processes and responsible gambling measures prior to making a final decision on August 15.
Missouri’s sports betting market officially opens on December 1, 2025, having been approved with a narrow 50.05% support in December of the prior year.
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