When compared to some conservative states like Georgia or states that prosecute online casino gamblers like they do in Washington, Missouri is fairly liberal. Many gambling activities are allowed in this state but there are also some that still remain outside of the law. Unfortunately, online casinos are currently considered illegal in Missouri, and online Sportsbook is a currently a bill in the making.

At the same time, residents of the state are welcome to play at riverboat casinos that are legal and broadly available across the state. NGOs can hold charitable gambling activities, and these cover skill games. Plus, horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering is allowed, as are Daily Fantasy Sports. These were acknowledged as skill games and were legalized back in 2016.

Residents of the state can also own slot machines at home. These devices have to be at least 30 years old and serve a recreational and decorative purpose.

We can’t say that everything is hopeless for online casinos in Missouri. From time to time, the local legislators come back to the discussion of legalizing virtual lobbies and tying them to riverboat casinos. However, there is still a long way to go for this initiative to turn into at least a bill, let alone the law.

Meanwhile, statistics show that residents of Missouri are fond of online gambling and regularly head to offshore operators to play live dealer games or slots, as well as to place bets on Sportsbook.

The gross gambling win in offshore casinos reached 28 billion dollars per year. Casino games remain the most popular, taking in more than 50% of this 28-billion-dollar pie. Another 40% are generated by betting, and the remaining small percentage is what bingo and poker games bring in.

Live games in Missouri-friendly casinos

Most of the offshore operators will provide some of the most popular live games — roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Table pokers are usually scarce, and as for wheel games and game shows — there are almost no options to choose from.

The most popular variations of live roulette available to residents of Missouri are American, European, and VIP versions. They are available in portfolios of Vivo Gaming, Arrow’s Edge, Visionary iGaming, and Fresh Deck Studios.

As for blackjack, live versions for American players are represented by classic and VIP, as well as rare variations like Early Payout BJ in ViG’s portfolio.

Baccarat in offshore lobbies is represented by the Punto banco variation, and as for table pokers, the most common one is Texas Hold’em.

Things to know about Missouri-friendly online casinos

For starters, the most common risk for the American players is to land in a rogue casino that won’t pay. To avoid such risks, we recommend selecting licensed online operators. Most commonly, these would be licenses from the jurisdicitoins of Curacao, Panama, and Costa Rica. We also advise checking the casino’s reputation on the gambling forums.

Also, because the live dealer niche for the USA is currently developing, there are still only a few studios legally offering content to players. Some of them even share the same studios. For instance, many of Arrow’s Edge’s live roulette releases are powered by Vivo Gaming.

Finally, due to the fact that banks in the USA may block all transactions connected to gambling if it is not officially supported by the state, many residents of Missouri (as well as the majority of American gamblers in general) prefer cryptocurrencies to USD, banks, or cards. Crypto is as safe, but it is also decentralized, which means no-muss-no-fuss transactions, low to no fees, and fast withdrawals.

The official age for gambling in Missouri is 21 years. The authority in charge of regulating the industry is the Missouri Gaming Commission. It relies on the Missouri State Code and the Revised Statues.

Riverboat casinos pay 21% gross gaming revenue, and this money, as well as earnings from the lottery fund education, veteran programs, and other charitable purposes.

Land-Based Casinos in Missouri

Missouri is one of those rare states where they have no tribal casinos.

As for commercially-operated venues, most of them are referred to as riverboat casinos although technically — they do not set sail. Most of them are fixed on barges and remain static.

In addition to these static river-based casinos, Missouri also allows licensed excursion gambling boats and floatation facilities.

To mention a few out of many places to bet and win, there is the Ameristar Casino Resort SPA, Ameristar Kansas City, Argosy Riverside, and Harrah’s North Kansas. Such casinos will have 100s of electronic slots and video poker games, as well as video keno and table games. Among others, players will be able to place bets on blackjack, roulette, craps, 3 Card Poker, and Pai Gow.

Pari-Mutuel Betting in Missouri

Horse-racing and pari-mutuel betting is allowed in Missouri, but the state has no race tracks. This eliminates the possibility of simulcast wagering.

State legislators are currently actively discussing the possibility to launch online Sportsbook and to tie it to already existing riverboat casinos. However, the state is notoriously slow when it comes to passing new laws, so although the bill’s been introduced back in 2019, it will take a while before it becomes a law.

Lotteries in Missouri

The lottery has been legal in Missouri since 1986. As of 1992, its surprise officially goes to fund public education purposes.

The Missouri State Lottery holds a monopoly on all the ticket selling action and participates in in-state and cross-state activities, including Mega Millions and Powerball. Total yearly lottery turnover across Powerball, Show Me Cash, Pick 4, Club Keno, Monopoly Millionnaire’s Club, and other activities exceed 100 bn USD.