Legal casino gambling age in US-MO: 21
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Online Casinos for players from Missouri
Introduction
Named after a Native American tribe, Missouri's official state motto is 'Salus populi suprema lex esto,' which translates to 'The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law.'
Its name comes from the word ouemessourita, which means "people who have wooden canoes."
It is, however, not universally believed that the nickname, the Show Me State, came from a Missouri congressman saying, "I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."
Missouri is known for many unique features, from being a home to the American bison, the biggest mammal in North America, to boasting various trees such as white oak, eastern redbud, and black walnut. But the state is even more known for its prairies, where hundreds of grass species grow.
Many native American tribes lived there for centuries, including Missouri, Osage, Illini, and Chickasaw, after the first people inhabited the land 20,000 years ago.
However, that does not mean there are any tribal casino venues in Missouri; it is quite the contrary!
Regarding land-based casinos…
…the state of Missouri has 13 riverboat casinos.
What’s more, in 1993, it became one of the first states to legalize riverboat casinos.
Still, online gambling and sports betting remain unregulated.
Casinos are mainly located on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, although the state allows them to float on artificial bodies of water. However, more riverboat casinos cannot enter the market without a statewide referendum approving them.
St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs are two iconic sports teams in Missouri, making it a perfect market for sports betting. Despite this, the state has yet to legalize it.
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History of Gambling in Missouri
If we take a look at the gambling history in Missouri, we will mostly come across riverboat casinos and horse racing since these could operate without regulation during the 19th century!
However, in 1905, authorities banned all of these types of operations!
It was not until 1980 that Missouri voters approved charitable bingo, while in 1984, legal gambling was again introduced to the state with the legalization of horse racing and the establishment of an official lottery.
However, ever since riverboats were approved in 1992 and started gaining popularity, the local racetracks became less popular and eventually stopped hosting live races!
Established in 1993 by the 87th General Assembly, the Missouri Gaming Commission started regulating excursion gambling boasts.
In addition, they ensure that gaming operations and games are conducted appropriately, in accordance with their rules, and with full disclosure. As already mentioned, a total of 13 riverboat casinos operate in Missouri.
In 1994, the MGC established the Charitable Gaming Division to ensure gaming integrity and to regulate bingo and other associated games to provide players with honest games.
Two years later, the Missouri Gaming Commission began regulating the Missouri Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act.
Operators of daily fantasy sports contests in Missouri must obtain a license from MGC and pay a fee. The MGC issues licenses, investigates applicants and violations, and collects the payments.
Finally, riverboat casinos were allowed to remain moored in 1998 after voters approved a ballot amendment.
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Attempts to Legalize Sports Betting & Current Gambling Regulations in Missouri
Although the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, PASPA, was abolished in 2018, Missouri remains one of several US states that have yet to legalize sports betting!
Namely, since the sports betting industry’s been booming after PASPA’s repeal, lawmakers have been passing the bills for many years now, but they always fail immediately.
In 2018, lawmakers introduced the first sports betting legislation to legalize this type of gambling at riverboat casinos, but it failed to advance to committee.
Once again, the state came very close to legalizing sports betting in 2022, and when several bills passed in the House in 2023, they failed in the Senate.
Since the beginning of 2024, Missouri lawmakers have introduced numerous bills to legalize sports betting!
According to some reports, over 431,000 blocked attempts were made to access legal sportsbooks in Missouri during Super Bowl weekend in February.
In August 2024, the Missouri sports betting ballot measure was approved, allowing Show Me State residents to vote this fall on whether the state should legalize sports betting within the state.
Earlier in April, many sports teams collected over 300,000 signatures in their continued effort to legalize sports betting.
If the amendment mentioned above passes, online sportsbooks could arrive in Missouri as early as 2025.
What Legal Gambling Options in Missouri Are Available Today?
As far as gambling is concerned, Missouri allows some forms but outlaws others.
While players from Missouri still need to wait for sports betting to be legalized, they can take an alternative approach by participating in daily fantasy sports betting!
Despite some states allowing DFS without laws authorizing it, Missouri is one of a relatively small number of states with such a law.
Moreover, residents can participate in charitable bingo games and a state-run lottery. The first lottery tickets were sold back in 1986, while the year later, Missouri became one of the first states to join the Multi-State Lottery Association.
As we have seen in many other US states, online gambling isn't addressed by the Missouri Gaming Commission's Rules, meaning residents can play at offshore sites even though no online casinos operate within Missouri.
While there are no standalone poker rooms in the state, this game is legal at licensed casinos.
Lastly, dog racing is illegal, and although horse racing is allowed, Missouri has no operational race tracks.
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