Missouri
Gambling Laws 2026

Sports betting is legal in Missouri, one of 36 states where it is, as of May 2026. Commercial casinos are legal, as they are in 24 states, and online casino gambling is illegal. Missouri has a state lottery, and horse racing is legal.

Missouri has 13 licensed commercial casinos operating under a riverboat framework in place since the early 1990s. Properties are distributed along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with facilities in St. Louis, Kansas City, and smaller river towns. Sports betting passed via a November 2022 ballot measure and launched in 2023. The enabling legislation took time to work through, but mobile betting is now available statewide through licensed operators.

The lottery has operated since 1986. Horse racing at various Missouri tracks continues under pari-mutuel rules. The ballot measure approach to sports betting reflected a legislative logjam that lasted years, with Missouri being one of the last Midwestern states to authorize it.

For residents, the situation has improved substantially since 2023. Mobile sports betting is now available statewide. Casino access is broad — if you live anywhere near the Missouri or Mississippi rivers, you are likely close to a licensed facility. Online casino gambling is not legal. The riverboat casinos have shed most of their nautical requirements and most now operate on permanently moored barges or land-based facilities.

13 riverboat casinos. Sports betting passed via ballot measure in 2022, launched 2023.

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Also on Missouri: the full Missouri profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Missouri sex laws guide and the Missouri country music guide.