DraftKings, FanDuel and Crica to compete for Missouri’s two untethered online sports betting licenses

DraftKings, FanDuel, and Circa Sports have submitted applications for Missouri’s two untethered online sports betting licenses, the state’s gaming regulator said, setting the stage for a competitive selection process ahead of the market’s Dec. 1 launch.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Gaming Commission confirmed with Sports Betting Dime that the three operators have submitted applications for the two available licenses. The deadline for applications was July 15, though a third application received on the morning of July 16 was accepted after being postdated, the spokesperson said.

Unlike tethered licenses, untethered licenses allow operators to enter Missouri’s online sports betting market without partnering with a land-based casino or professional sports franchise, freeing them from revenue-sharing obligations.

The state’s approved regulatory framework allows for up to 14 online sports betting licenses and 19 retail licenses. The Missouri Gaming Commission will announce the recipients of the untethered licenses on Aug. 15, after a public hearing process and applicant appearances scheduled for Aug. 13.

Underdog is the only company that has applied for both a retail and online license but has not yet named a required market access partner. Supplier license applications have also been submitted by Catalist, Gaming Labs International, and GeoComply.

Meanwhile, BetMGM confirmed Century Casinos as its market access partners in late May, meaning that, if awarded a license, the company would be permitted to run its online betting platform across the state and retail sportsbooks at Century's discretion.

For its part, bet365 Missouri entered a sports betting partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals back in March. The multi-year agreement would provide the sports betting brand with access to the Show-Me state's upcoming market.

The public comment period on Missouri’s sports betting rules closed on July 16, followed by a public hearing on July 17. The state’s sports betting market is set to go live on Dec. 1.