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    Missouri

    There are several variants of gambling laws and regulations in the US. In each state, you will have a new set to follow with different forms of gambling activities legally available. In Missouri online gambling is currently not legally available.

    Profile

    Land Based Gambling
    Allowed in Casino, Poker, Bingo, Lottery, Horse Racing
    Online Gambling
    Allowed in DFS
    Min Age
    16-21
    Number of Land Based Casinos
    13
    Number of Poker Rooms
    7
    Number of Indian Casinos
    1
    Popular Land Based Casinos
    River City Casino, Argosy Casino, Isle of Capri, Harrah’s Isle Casino
    Pari-Mutuel
    No
    Smoking Ban
    None
    Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling
    $620M
    Estimated Gambling Revenue
    $3B

    Land Based Gambling

    Casino
    Casino

    Regulated Since: 1992

    Gambling Age: 21

    Sports Betting
    Sports Betting
    Poker
    Poker

    Regulated Since: 1992

    Gambling Age: 21

    Bingo
    Bingo

    Regulated Since: 1994

    Gambling Age: 16

    Lottery
    Lottery

    Regulated Since: 1984

    Gambling Age: 18

    Horse Racing
    Horse Racing

    Regulated Since: 1984

    Gambling Age: 18

    Dog Racing
    Dog Racing

    Online Gambling

    Online Casino
    Online Casino
    Online Sports Betting
    Online Sports Betting
    Online Poker
    Online Poker
    Online Bingo
    Online Bingo
    eSports Betting
    eSports Betting
    DFS
    DFS

    Regulated Since: 0

    Gambling Age: 21


    Overview

    There are several variants of gambling laws and regulations in the US. In each state, you will have a new set to follow with different forms of gambling activities legally available. In Missouri online gambling is currently not legally available.

    In the United States, you will find that each state has different laws and regulations in place for gambling entertainment. In the state of Missouri, the legalisation and regulation of gambling haven’t been a top priority.

    When compared to other states you’ll note that Missouri joined the gambling market quite late. And while lottery and racing were legalised in the early days it took nearly a decade for the state to add charitable gambling and casinos.

    That being said the state has one of the biggest and most successful lotteries running in the country today. Which is probably their biggest source of gambling revenue seeing as no horse race tracks are operating in the state. By estimating the state makes about $3,000,000,000 in gambling revenue a year. And an estimated $620,000,000 in tax revenue from gambling activities in a year.

    This state is a late bloomer no doubt, but there is plenty of opportunities to grow and expand the gambling market here. One avenue to follow would be legalising iGaming activities in the state. Missouri has always been a bit of a grey area when it comes to online gambling. Never outright expression how they feel towards this type of activity.

    At the current time, the state of Missouri is pushing to legalise sports betting and regulate the gambling industry more carefully. Senate Bill 566 has not yet been implemented but when approved sports betting will be available legally in this state. When it comes to online casinos there is no active movement to legalization. The motion to legalise sports betting is a step in the right direction and could see to it that online casino legalization follow shortly after.

    The main priority in Missouri is to take back control of the gambling market which has been left largely unregulated. With the addition of sports betting, there will be new sources of gambling revenue for the state. The prime goal was to expand the industry without taking the shine away from the successful Missouri Lottery. The new legislation could allow for video gambling machines to become accessible in local fraternal and veteran organizations, truck shops and retail locations with liquor licenses too.

    Step by step Missouri is expanding their market and while they might be behind the curve they are making progress in the right direction. 


    Regulation

    Missouri has a rather interesting history with gambling as it used to be an activity that flourished in the state in the 1800s. The successful gambling market was brought to a halt by harsh regulations forcing all gambling activities to come to a stop.
    Horse racing in this state dates back to the 1750s with bookkeepers legally accepting bets until the 1800s. And in 1905 gambling activities in the state became illegal.

    Then in 1980, the state started slowly bringing back gambling activities once more. The state legislature allowed for Bingo to be played for charitable means within state boundaries in this year. In 1984 both Horse Racing and the Lottery was legalised and in 1985 the lottery was implemented. The lottery was an immediate hit among residents which instantly raised tax revenues and allowed residents the chance to win big in jackpot prize pools. The Missouri Lottery is allowed to host several games of chance which includes lotto drawings, instant games and keno.

    With the return of horse racing, the big excitement around it seemed to have disappeared. The tracks struggled especially with the state refusing to permit off-track betting on days where no live races were taking place. While the state did this to encourage more live races it led to the tracks collapsing. With no funds to subsidize the tracks, the industry collapsed completely with the legalisation of casinos in 1994.

    The President Casino was the first Missouri Casino to open on a boat in this state. That being said this casino has been part of the Mississippi River since 1907. Interestingly enough, while casinos were only legalised in the state in 1994 Riverboats were operating illegally in the state long before this time. Legally the President Casino was the first to open in 1994 with the Casino St. Charles following in its footsteps. The casino regulations in this state were strict with casinos only being allowed to operate between 10 am and 1 am. Each excursion could only last for 2 hours and players were not allowed to lose more than $500 at this time.

    Over the years the restrictions on casino became more relaxed and the loss limit was repealed in 2008. Reason being that gamblers started acting irresponsibly to keep playing. The legalisation of casinos includes slot machines, table games, poker tables and video poker machines.

    Today there is a rise in illegal gambling machines found in the state hence the new proposed gambling legislation. Senate Bill 566 will not only legalise sports betting in this state but will also allow for state-regulated video gambling machines to become available state-wide. While the bill has been in circulation it’s unclear how the Senate and House will rule on it or when it will be implemented into law. 


    Licensing

    Missouri is one of the slow-paced states not rushed to follow in the footsteps of other states. While they don’t have many legal gambling forms available today they do have strict gambling laws and regulations in place.

    There are three main regulators in the state namely the Missouri Horse Racing Commission, the Missouri Lottery Commission and the Missouri Gaming Commission.

    The Missouri Horse Racing Commission oversees the development and administration of the pari-mutuel horse racing industry. They also encourage the breeding of Missouri horses for use in the racing industry. The commission is assigned to the Missouri Gaming Commission and assists with all matters that relate to the pari-mutuel horse racing industry in the state.

    The lottery in Missouri is regulated by the Missouri Lottery Commission. This commission is made up of five members each who have been appointed by the governor and approved by the state senate. The commission is in charge of issuing regulations of rules regarding the lottery and appointing a director responsible for the daily running of the state lottery. Every two years there is an audit where the commission looks for any conflicts of interest, taxes, lottery rule changes as well as revenue distribution. The lottery is the most successful and thriving gambling activity in the state and therefore the prime focus is ensuring no other gambling activities take away from it. Some believe it is one of the reasons the progression of gambling legislation has been so slow in the state.

    Lastly, there is the Missouri Gaming Commission who regulates and overseers all riverboat casinos, charitable bingo and fantasy sports activities in the state. The Commission was established back in 1993 primarily to regulate excursion gambling boats. The prime objective of the commission is to ensure the legality of all licensed gaming operations and that all games are conducted fairly. The Missouri Gaming Commission is a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety and operated daily by an appointed director. The commission is overseen by five commissioners who have been appointed by the governor and approved by the state senate. 



    Casinos and Gambling Facilities in Missouri Gambling?


    FAQ

    Is Online Gambling Legal in Missouri?
    No, at this current time online gambling is considered illegal in the state of Missouri.
    It depends on which offshore gambling sites you choose. Sites that are licensed and operate under strict regulations are generally safe. There are however always risks when gambling illegally.
    Yes, Missouri has one of the most successful lotteries which includes scratch-off tickets, lotto drawings and keno games.
    While it is legal in the state there are no tracks or races within this state.
    It is legal in the state but there are no venues available to place wagers.
    No, you can only bet off-track at tracks on race days. Since there are no active tracks no betting is taking place.
    DFS is currently being offered in the state and has been legal since 2016.
    Yes, the state has over a dozen casinos but these are required to be located near or on water.
    Charity gambling has a minimum age restriction of 16, Lottery and Horse Racing an age restriction of 18 and Casino gambling an age restriction of 21 years or older.
    No, while there used to be a $500 loss limit in casinos it was repealed in 2008. 
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