Can You Gamble In Missouri
Missouri, otherwise known as the Cave State, has over six million residents. The state is filled with loads of natural scenery like the Missouri River, a water source that many have thrived on for quite some time. The river may stretch across the state but so does sports gambling. On this page, we’ll give some insight on sports betting in Missouri, where to go, and what laws are in effect that could change how you bet on sports in Missouri.
Missouri gaming operator ducks House hearing on illegal gambling Oct 11, 2019 Law enforcement officials say the gaming terminals are a form of illegal gambling. Online Gambling is available in a growing number of places across the United States. Check out our page on where Online Gambling is legal to find the most up to date information on where you can play. Participating in such activity is a misdemeanor in Missouri. The one exception: Social gambling (no house, in private, occurring among people with a genuine social relationship) is permitted and not required to be licensed (Section 572.010 (8)). Missouri has one quirk of law that should be of special interest to poker players. Terms Used In Missouri Laws 572.070. Gambling: a person engages in gambling when he or she stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his or her control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or she will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.
While we cannot tell you that it is legal to run down the block and pay someone to bet on a sporting event, we can tell you that there is nothing making it illegal for you to join the sports betting sites accepting Missouri residents. We have listed a brief overview of the laws on this page, as we do not want our players to cower beneath the fear of an incomprehensibly misguided misconception about the industry of gambling on the Internet in the United States. Later in this article, we will talk about some common questions that bettors may have as well as answer some other questions whose answers may seem blurry or unclear.
Legal Missouri March Madness Betting
The biggest thing that players look for when wanting to bet is where they can make the most money at one time. It doesn’t take that long for players to find the games and the matches that they like to wager on. March Madness will have all types of matches with underdogs who could win players a lot of money. The best place to wager on March Madness and that is online sportsbooks. It is without a question that sites like Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and others are the best places for legal Missouri March Madness betting. It is so good to see that once a player has decided which sportsbooks he wants to sign up for, bonuses will be available especially with March Madness coming around.
Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Missouri Residents
Residents of Missouri can freely bet through a variety of different sportsbooks. We have tested more than 50 different sportsbooks, but we have clearly slimmed down the number to only a select few. If you are going to wager on sports online, you will definitely want to stick to the most impressive betting sites out there. If you choose a low-quality site, you could easily find yourself getting ripped off or robbed - do not allow this to happen. We are sure that you will definitely have a fair experience through these books. Just don't attempt to cheat!
Bovada - 50% Welcome Bonus
Bovada is one of the longest running online sportsbooks around. It has been serving players for over a decade and, seeing as it is still a prime spot for bettors, has given great customer service to players since the early 2000s. Bovada offers a wide selection of sports for bettors to gamble on and even offers some special promotions as well.
Bovada offers a 50% welcome bonus for first-time players on the site. To receive your bonus, you just have to redeem it and make a deposit. This bonus only works on your first deposit and cannot be used again. There is no code required code to redeem this code. Once your deposit has been made your 50% bonus will be available for betting within 30 minutes.
SportsBetting - 25% Bonus For Life
SportsBetting is another online sportsbook that has been around the block. The sportsbook offers many different types of wagering options and even live betting on certain sports. Their live betting section offers sports from around the world. The section is constantly updated for the various sporting events happening around the world and within the U.S.
Bettors using SportsBetting’s online sportsbook have the option to receive some rewards of their own for using the site. One of which is the 25% Bonus for Life. Use the promo code FORLIFE when you make a deposit of at least $50 to get your 25% bonus for life. You can earn up to $1,000 dollars in bonuses off of one single deposit. Head to SportsBetting today to take advantage of the offer of a lifetime.
BetOnline - 50% Welcome Bonus
When looking at the top online sportsbooks that are available to Missouri sports bettors, BetOnline is sitting with the best of the best. They offer a bunch of odds on plenty of different sports including the top sports such as the NBA and NFL and also including much smaller sports like Snooker and Darts. With those odds come many different prop bets as well in which they are amongst the top sportsbooks as well that offer interesting prop bets.
BetOnline also has great welcome bonuses as well for new users to take advantage of when signing up for a BetOnline account. They offer a 50% welcome bonus where they will match 50% of your initial deposit up to $1,000 with the code BOL1000. They also offer a 100% cryptocurrency bonus where they will match 100% of your initial deposit with any form of cryptocurrency with the code CRYPTO100.
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Is Sports Betting Legal in Missouri?
Missouri residents will be happy to know that there is nothing that will prevent you from gambling on the Internet, as there has not been a written ban on online gambling. Even sports gambling is barely mentioned, though bookmaking sure is. As long as you are playing on the Internet and not taking bets yourself, you should be fine under the laws. However, if you want to take a $5 bet on the Rams betting lines from your buddy this week, don't expect anyone to come kicking down your door.
Missouri Sports Betting & Gambling Laws
Under the current laws of the Missouri state code, there is nothing expressly written to make online sports gambling illegal. We have looked through Chapter 572 of the Missouri criminal codes, and we only found evidence that being in the business of gambling is illegal. Even then, you are not actually going to have to worry about any crimes being committed. Legislators are actually looking to enact new sports betting bills in order to change the Missouri sports betting climate. You can check our Missouri sports betting bill tracker for the latest proposed legislation.
Federal laws have also done nothing to prevent players from betting on the Internet, though there is the Wire Act to prevent interstate sports wagering sites. There is also the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, but frankly, that law does absolutely nothing but make it difficult to fund your account with credit cards.
Legal Gambling Age For Missouri Residents
So many players ask us how old they have to be to begin gambling on sports over the Internet, and this is why we have brought our readers the legal gambling age in Missouri is 21. If you are 21 years of age or older, you are freely able to gamble on sports on the Internet. If you are under 21 you run the risk of being banned and having your funds confiscated. We advise that you wait until you are of age to gamble, even when you gamble online through an offshore sportsbook, just to be safe.
Missouri Mobile Sports Betting
The big news of mobile betting was music to the ears of plenty of bettors. Now being able to use your phone to access your online sportsbook account means so much when it comes to putting a lot of money on the line. This feature is one of many that these online sportsbooks have and speaks volumes to plenty of its players. The game is about to start and you are not home but you still can place your wager with this feature. This is great for those betting on the NFL in Missouri as Cheifs games at Arrowhead are full of betting opportunities.
Your phone now has everything that a computer or a laptop has. You would expect to need more storage on your phone to be able to access your account however that isn’t needed! All you have to do is simply type in your online sportsbooks and the mobile version will automatically pop up! This makes it very smooth and less worrisome for those traveling bettors. So make sure your phone is working and your online Missouri sportsbook account will be right on your hip!
Land Based Gambling In Missouri
Ameristar Casino, Argosy Casino, City of Caruthersville Casino Aztar, Harrah's North Kansas City Casino & Hotel, Harrah's St. Louis Casino & Hotel, Isle of Capri Casino, Mark Twain Casino, President Casino, St. Jo Frontier Casino.
With all of these casinos in the state, you probably do not have to travel too far in order to gamble, but there is no legal sports betting available unless it is done online. There are no live sports betting locations in the state, so there is no option available for you. We have found that you have to turn to the Internet in order to bet on sports, as you would otherwise be breaking the law.
FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Missouri
1) Are there any laws currently in the works to ban online gambling outright?
No. There are currently no laws going through the legislature that would ban online gambling. You are free to gamble online with an offshore sportsbook site. The offshore sites are out of Missouri legal jurisdiction, so you will be safe betting on sports online with an offshore book.
2) On the converse, is there a law being passed that would authorize sportsbooks - online or otherwise?
that would bring legal Missouri sportsbooks to reality. Multiple bills have been written, all of which would make sports betting legal at physical venues. There are also those advocating for mobile and online wagering, though these forms of wagering are often the most highly debated. Missouri will likely be one of the states to legalize by 2023.
3) Is wagering on sports through Bovada legal in Missouri?
Yes. Bovada is one of the best sports betting sites for Missouri residents out there, and you can legally wager through their service without too many complications. Bovada is outside of Missouri jurisdiction, so it’s safe to bet on sports with Bovada while living in Missouri.
4) How long does it take to deposit into your account?
You can instantly wager on sports, as credit card deposits process in seconds. Most online sportsbooks or at least the ones that we’ve mentioned have very quick deposit times, most, depending on the method of the deposit payment, happen fairly quick. Some instantaneously.
5) Are withdrawals equally as quick as deposits?
Not quite. Processing your withdrawal and shipping your money back to you takes under two weeks’ time. Deposits, on the other hand, can happen pretty instantly, so there is a vast difference between the times. Online sportsbooks have their own withdraw times though, and it’s best to check their site to see what their time frame says specifically.
6) Are payments all made safely, or is it possible for financial information to be stolen?
Your financial information will be kept totally safe if you stick to our gambling sites. We cannot say the same for some other locations that we have not tested. The offshore sportsbooks we’ve recommended have been around for a long time because they treat players money well and keep it safe. Your payments will be safe and secure with these sites.
7) When Can I Bet At A Land-Based Sportsbook In Missouri?
Missouri is one of the states that have yet to pass a sports gambling law. There is, however, some legal activity going on in the Missouri legislature. We aren’t sure when sportsbooks will come to the state, but it looks more like a sooner rather than later.
8) Does the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act make depositing a crime?
No. You are not liable under this law. The UIGEA is not targeted toward the players but the bookie instead. You are free to deposit money into your account on an offshore online sportsbook. Depositing is not a crime for these offshore books, so you will be safe.
9) How often can I make a deposit into my sportsbook?
Every sportsbook has its own limits as to how much you can put in your account. We recommend that you check with your favorite online sportsbooks to see what they say as each sportsbook may have different deposit schedules. Most of this information can be found on your sportsbooks help page, or by contacting their customer service which will be available 24 hours a day.
10) Has anyone in the U.S.A. ever been arrested for gambling on sports on the Internet?
There has never been arrested for legal betting, but there have been some people arrested for running an online sportsbook in the USA. However, the people that placed bets at it were not even contacted.
11) Can I Bet On My Phone In Missouri?
Yes, you can bet on your phone in Missouri but only with an offshore online sportsbook. We’ve included two in this article that you can use as well. The online sportsbooks we’ve recommended have mobile versions of their sites that you can use whether you have an iPhone or Android device.
12) Can I Do Live Betting In Missouri?
Yes, you can do live betting through one of the online sportsbooks we’ve mentioned. Missouri does not currently have any sportsbooks in the state, nor does it have a casino that offers live betting in-person. SportsBetting or Bovada would be good choices if you are looking to do live betting. Right now, you can only do live betting in Missouri through an online offshore sportsbook.
- Horseracing (1984), Lottery (1984), Casinos (1992), Bingo (1994)
- $620 million
- $3 billion
- 16 for charity games, 18 for lottery and racing, 21 for casinos
- Missouri does not have a statewide smoking ban
- No forms of legal online gambling
Missouri gambling was late to the market when compared to other states. It didn’t legalize a lottery or racing until 1984. Missouri casinos and charitable gambling were legalized 10 years later.
The Missouri Lottery is among the most successful in the country. That cannot be said about the state’s horseracing. The last of the tracks failed in the 1990s after Missouri casinos became legal. Off-track betting is allowed, but there are none of those facilities. That is because simulcast racing may only be held on days where there is a live race. This makes online betting on horses also illegal in Missouri.
Paying Gambling Taxes in Missouri
How are gambling winnings taxed? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying gambling taxes. If you want to learn how to report your gambling income to the IRS, check out our exclusive Gambling Taxes Guide.
Missouri Casinos Map & Guide
- River City Casino
- Argosy Casino
- Isle of Capri
- Harrah’s
- Isle Casino
- 13
- 7
- 1
Types of Missouri Online Gambling Allowed
The only form of legal Missouri online gambling is daily fantasy sports. The law is unclear on the topic. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo! are among the sites that accept players in the state for daily fantasy sports contests. A bill was introduced in the Missouri Legislature in 2016 to expressly make daily fantasy sports legal.
November 2018 Update
Bingo! During the midterm elections, voters in Missouri decided to pass a measure that would give bingo in the state a boost. Now organizations will only need 6 months of membership to be allowed to offer bingo games.
Types of Live Missouri Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps/Roulette: Yes
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
There are four types of legal live Missouri gambling. One is allowed on the books but is a dead industry in the state; horse racing. The state allows tracks to offer live races but none actually do. That is because like in most states, Missouri casinos devastated the racing industry. Off-track betting is only legal on days of live races. That means there are no racebooks in Missouri either since no live races take place.
There is a state lottery in Missouri. Scratch-off and lotto tickets are mostly sold in convenience stores. This includes interstate drawings like Mega Millions and Powerball. Missouri also has Club Keno. These tickets are sold in bars, bowling alleys, and pool halls. A new drawing is held every four minutes.
Bingo and raffles are legal if offered by registered charities. These include religious, fraternal, and veteran causes.
A big attraction in Missouri are the riverboat casinos. These are open 24 hours a day. The boats are not required to leave the docks anymore. They are standard Missouri casinos that just happen to be located on waterways like the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. There are no restrictions on casino games. Players can enjoy slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow Poker, and live poker, among other approved games. There are currently 13 Missouri casinos that are open and operating throughout the state. You can use our Missouri casinos map to find the locations and contact information of each.
Missouri once had a $500 loss limit every two hours. This was repealed by voters in 2008.
Missouri Gambling Laws
Missouri gambling laws permit several forms of legalized gambling. All gambling establishments must be licensed by the state. This includes charities, which must register. A charity may offer bingo and raffles if spread by a religious, fraternal, or veterans organization. The charity must have existed for at least two years prior to spreading these games. Professional gamblers are barred from playing in charity games.
Casinos must be located on boats. The casinos no longer have to leave the dock, nor do they have to enforce loss limits. The $500 loss limit every two hours was repealed in 2008 by voters in a statewide referendum.
Missouri Casino Games and Taxes
Casinos in Missouri may spread any table game allowed in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. This includes slots, video poker, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, blackjack, craps, roulette, keno, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, and any approved house-banked table game. Missouri casinos must pay a 21 percent tax on gaming win to the state. There is also a $2 admission tax on every patron. This requires all Missouri casino patrons to have a player card so that they may be tracked for this fee.
Anyone that loses money in illegal gambling schemes may pursue loss recovery through the qui tam laws in Missouri. If the losing gambler declines to claim these losses, the family may do so in his place. Parents may recover the gambling losses of minors.
Racing is legal in Missouri. No tracks have operated since the 1990s. Off-track betting is only permitted on days where there is a live race. This means that there is no legal way to bet on a horse race in Missouri, even though the activity is technically legal. Mobile apps and websites that accept bets on horse races are also illegal. The Missouri Horse Racing Commission still exists but is essentially defunct.
The state lottery may sell scratch-off and lotto tickets through retailers. They may not be sold over the Internet. The Missouri Lottery may also hold keno drawings every four minutes. Club Keno retailers require a special license. These are typically found in taverns and other businesses that have an open-pour alcohol license.
Missouri Minimum Gambling Ages
Missouri gambling law is a special case among other states when it comes to the “minimum gambling age”. They have three different tiers for the cut-off ages:
Missouri Casinos List
There are 13 casinos in Missouri. Each Missouri casino is required to be located on or near a body of water. Most are located near the largest cities in the state.
You can find the general casino information below, including the address and website. For more specific directions, you can use our Missouri casinos map for guidance.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Ameristar Casino – Kansas City | 2,500 Slot Machines | 3200 North Ameristar Drive | www.ameristar.com |
Ameristar Casino – St. Charles | 2,700 Slot Machines | 1260 South Main Street | www.ameristar.com |
Argosy Casino – Riverside | 1,750 Slot Machines | 777 Northwest Argosy Parkway | www.argosykansascity.com |
Harrah’s – North Kansas City | 2,100 Slot Machines | 1 Riverboat Drive | www.caesars.com |
Hollywood Casino – St. Louis | 2,100 Slot Machines | 777 Casino Center Drive | www.hollywoodcasinostlouis.com |
Isle of Capri – Boonville | 900 Slot Machines | 100 Isle of Capri Boulevard | www.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Isle Casino – Cape Girardeau | 900 Slot Machines | 777 Main Street | www.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Isle of Capri – Kansas City | 1,000 Slot Machines | 1800 Front Street | www.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Lady Luck Casino – Caruthersville | 500 Slot Machines | 777 East 3rd Street | www.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Lumiere Place Casino – St. Louis | 1,700 Slot Machines | 999 North 2nd Street | www.lumiereplace.com |
Mark Twain Casino – La Grange | 600 Slot Machines | 104 Pierce Street | www.marktwaincasinolagrange.com |
River City Casino – Lemay | 2,000 Slot Machines | 777 River City Casino Boulevard | www.rivercity.com |
St. Jo Frontier Casino – St. Joseph | 556 Slot Machines | 777 Winners Circle | www.stjofrontiercasino.com |
Can You Gamble In Branson Missouri
History of Missouri Gambling
Modern gambling in Missouri started in 1984. There were two forms of gambling that date back to the state’s early days and into its territorial ones. Horse racing began in the 1750s. By 1800, there were 20 racetracks in St. Louis. Wagers were accepted through gray area bookmaking operations. Horse racing became illegal in Missouri in 1905.
Missouri casinos operated on riverboats in waterside communities during the 1800s. This was commonplace during that era. These riverboats survived through the prohibition days but were never technically legal. Authorities looked the other way.
Horse racing returned in 1984. Tracks struggled through the early years. The state was unwilling to permit off-track betting on days where there were no live races. This was done to encourage live racing days but it had the opposite effect. The inability to subsidize tracks with simulcast betting revenue contributed to the industry’s collapse once casinos were legalized in 1994.
Voters approved a constitutional amendment to create a state lottery the same year the horse racing industry was revived. The Missouri Lottery is permitted to hold games of chance. These include instant games, lotto drawings, and keno for money.
Voters returned to the polls in 1992 to approve riverboat casinos. The President Casino became the first Missouri casino when it opened on a boat that had been a part of the Mississippi River since 1907. It opened in 1994. Casino St. Charles opened around the same time. Admission fees were charged at the time. They ranged from $2 to $5, depending on the day of the week. Casinos in Missouri were only open from 10 am to 1 am. Excursions were for two hours. Players could not lose more than $500 per two-hour cruise. Some boats in the early years never left the dock. The cruise time was simply the period where the anchor was lifted.
Restrictions were relaxed over the years. The biggest inconvenience for gamblers was the $500 loss limit every two hours. This caused players to do unusual things. Gamblers would sell chips in bathrooms. Poker players were forced to stockpile chips to have the bankroll to sit in higher limit games. That is because a player could not buy-in to any casino game for more than $500 during a set two-hour period. This covered slot machines, video poker, table games, and poker tables.
Missouri was the last state with a casino loss limit. A statewide referendum did away with the $500 loss limit in 2008.
Missouri Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Is there a state lottery in Missouri?
Yes. Games include scratch-off tickets, lotto drawings, and keno games.
Horseracing is legal in the state but there are no tracks.
Off-track betting is technically legal in Missouri but there are no places to make the wagers in the state.
No. Off-track betting is only legal at tracks on race days. There are no active tracks in Missouri.
The sites claim legality under Missouri’s skill gaming laws even though there is no specific statute addressing it. The state’s attorney general and legislature have not acted on the issue although a bill is pending that would legalize it.
Yes, there are currently 13 Missouri casinos. They must be located on or near the water.
The minimum Missouri gambling age is 16 years for charity gambling, 18 years for lottery and horse racing, and 21 years for casino gambling.
Can You Gamble In Missouri
No. The $500 casino loss limit was repealed in 2008.
Can You Gamble In Branson Missouri
Missouri does not have a statewide smoking ban.