DraftKings, Circa Sports and FanDuel prepare to go live in Missouri

The Missouri Gaming Commission has named DK Crown Holdings, the parent company of DraftKings, and Circa Hospitality Group, operator of Circa Sports, as the two recipients of the state’s highly coveted Sports Wagering Direct Mobile Licenses. These “untethered” licenses allow operators to offer mobile sports betting without being tied to a land-based casino or professional sports team.

The selections came after a competitive review process under Article III, §39(g) of the Missouri Constitution, which permits only two such stand-alone licenses out of a total of up to 21 sports wagering licenses available statewide.

Hours after being denied one of the two untethered licenses, FanDuel — the nation’s leader in online sports betting by market share — announced it had secured market access through a partnership with Major League Soccer’s St. Louis CITY SC.

“The Commission considered many factors before the two applicants were chosen,” said Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan Zimmerman. “We commend Betfair Interactive US, LLC for its efforts. It was a difficult decision, but the Commission is only able to grant two licenses.”

With the awards, both DraftKings and Circa Sports will undergo further regulatory review ahead of Missouri’s planned sports betting launch on 1 December.

DraftKings Gains Direct Entry

DraftKings announced it has secured one of the two direct mobile sports betting licenses, allowing it to operate independently across the state. Missouri will be the 29th U.S. state where DraftKings Sportsbook operates regulated online wagering.

“We’re pleased to secure one of two direct mobile licenses in Missouri — paving the way for us to bring DraftKings’ industry-leading online sportsbook to fans across the state,” said Matt Kalish, President of DraftKings North America. “Missouri is home to several professional teams and deeply passionate fanbases, and we look forward to enhancing their sports experience with a dynamic and responsible mobile platform.”

The company plans to launch on the universal start date of December 1, pending final approvals, and will offer its suite of responsible gaming tools, including My Stat Sheet and My Budget Builder. DraftKings also engages in community support, recently donating to the St. Louis Tornado Response Fund to aid recovery from May’s devastating storms.

Circa Sports Wins as the Underdog

Circa Sports, known for sharp odds, high limits, and low hold percentages, secured the second untethered license. CEO Derek Stevens called the award “a great honor,” noting that the company came in as the underdog against larger national brands.

“We didn’t win by trying to be the biggest,” Stevens said. “We won by staying true to who we are.” Circa Sports has already connected with 81,000 Missourians through its Club One loyalty program and plans to support local events and youth sports as part of its market entry.

FanDuel Finds Another Way In

“Missouri is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, and we are thrilled to partner with St. Louis CITY SC to introduce our industry-leading product to the Show Me State,” said Mike Raffensperger, President of Sports at FanDuel.

While missing out on a stand-alone license was surprising to many in the industry, the partnership ensures FanDuel will still enter the Missouri market when mobile wagering launches December 1. The state will be the 25th U.S. jurisdiction for FanDuel, which is already live in neighboring Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas.