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【Hands of Midas K-Pop】Missouri Sports Betting Start Date Delayed Until Fall
The Hands of Midas K-Popearliest possible date to bet legally on sports in Missouri has been pushed back from the summer to at least the fall.
Officials had hoped for a June start date, when Major League Baseball would be just a few months into the regular season. However, Secretary of State Denny Hoskinshas rejected the Missouri Gaming Commission's proposed emergency sports betting rules, Communications Director Rachael Dunn confirmed Monday. As a state senator, Hoskins opposed sports betting legislation.
The commission sought emergency rules to launch sports betting soon. Hoskins said the request does not meet the criteria for emergency rulemaking. That criteria includes “a danger to public health, safety, or welfare.” It also requires a “compelling governmental interest" for an early effective date.
In the absence of emergency rules, the Gaming Commission timeline "is being pushed back months,” according to a statement emailed to Gambling.com from spokeswomanElizabeth Hoffman.
“In the meantime, commission staff will continue working to ensure we meet the constitutionally required start date of sports wagering not later than December 1, 2025," the statement reads.
In an email later Monday, Hoskins said Missourians have voiced concerns about the sports betting launch and "requested an opportunity for public input."
Hoskins said the public comment period will run until at least April 17.
"During this time, citizens will be able to express their concerns and opinions," he said, adding that this ensures "the public’s input is considered before the rules move forward."
"This is an essential part of the process, ensuring that all concerns are addressed before the final rules are filed," he said.
Under the "proper procedure," Hoskins said, proposed rules could be effective by Sept. 30.
Commission OK Required
In November, voters in Missouri narrowly approved a ballot question legalizing sports betting on mobile devices such as cellphones and in person at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. Sports betting is legal in every state that borders Missouri except Oklahoma.
Betting can’t begin in Missouri, however, until the Gaming Commission licenses sports betting platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel and finalizes the rules and regulations.
The public could learn more about a potential go-live date when the commission holds its next meeting in Jefferson City on Feb. 26.
Meanwhile, commission chairwoman Jan Zimmerman also forwarded the proposed rules and regulations to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office for review. The governor's spokeswoman, Gabby Picard, told Gambling.com in an email that Kehoe and Hoskins "continue to have a good working relationship."
"The governor’s office will continue to work with the Missouri Gaming Commission and the office of the secretary of state on sports betting implementation," Picard said.
Missouri Bettors Barred From I-70 Series, Early NFL Preseason
In other states, gaming regulators have targeted major sporting events, such as NFL football games, to launch legal wagering. NFL games are the most heavily bet events in the country on a weekly basis.
Missouri is home to the AFC’s Kansas City Chiefs, a recent Super Bowl repeat winner that lost this season's title game to the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles.
A sports betting start date in early June would have given bettors in Missouri, where Major League Baseball is popular, a chance to wager legally on an I-70 rivalry series between the American League’s Kansas City Royals and National League’s St. Louis Cardinals.
Now, the I-70 series and the start of the NFL preseason are off the table for Missouri sports bettors wanting to wager legally. The preseason kicks off with the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31 at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. The teams have not been announced.
The 2025 NFL regular season schedules are expected to be announced in the spring. The NFL has released the home-and-away opponents for every team but not the dates for each game.
Below are the Chiefs' opponents for the upcoming season:
- Home: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions
- Away: Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills