Missouri Casinos, Sweepstakes and Gambling

Sweepstakes Casinos in Missouri

Sweepstakes casinos are fully legal and accessible in Missouri. The Missouri Gaming Commission has taken no enforcement action against sweepstakes operators, and no legislation targeting them has been introduced. All of our recommended platforms are available to Missouri players.

• MegaBonanza: Our top pick for Missouri. Large slots catalogue, generous daily offers, and a polished free-entry model.
• Crown Coins: A well-regarded sweepstakes casino with a strong game library and smooth redemption process.
• Spree: A growing platform with a clean no-purchase entry model and solid game selection.
• WOW Vegas: Over 1,000 slots plus live dealer games. Free Sweeps Coins from day one, plus a daily wheel offer.
• Free Spin Casino: A solid option with a wide variety of slot titles.
• American Luck: A US-focused platform with regular promotional offers.
• Fortune Coins: Popular for its large game library and strong VIP programme.

Social Casinos

• 7 Seas Casino: Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
• Vegas World: Free slots, poker, and table games in a lively social environment.
• Casino World: A broad range of free social casino games.

Tax on Sweepstakes Winnings in Missouri

Missouri has a state income tax. Sweepstakes prize winnings are taxable at both federal and state level. Platforms will issue a 1099-MISC for prizes exceeding $600. Declare all prize income on your Missouri state tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Missouri?

Yes. Sweepstakes casinos are fully legal in Missouri and operate without enforcement challenges. The Missouri Gaming Commission has not taken any action against sweepstakes operators, and no Missouri legislation targets them. All of our recommended platforms are accessible to Missouri players.

Is online sports betting legal in Missouri?

Yes — as of December 1, 2025. Missouri voters approved sports betting via Amendment 2 in the November 2024 statewide referendum, passing by the narrow margin of 2,961 votes out of nearly three million cast. The Missouri Gaming Commission licenced eight online sportsbooks for launch day: BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Fanatics, Caesars, theScore Bet, and Circa. Operators pay a 10% tax on adjusted gross revenue; a minimum of $5 million or 10% of tax revenue is directed to responsible gambling programmes. The minimum age is 21. Up to 21 total online sports betting licences are available — 13 tied to casino properties, 6 to professional sports franchises (Chiefs, Royals, Cardinals, Blues, St. Louis CITY SC, Kansas City Current), and 2 untethered (awarded to DraftKings and FanDuel).

Are real-money online casinos legal in Missouri?

No. Online casino gaming is not legalised in Missouri. No active legislation is advancing toward iGaming at this time. Land-based casino interests are expected to resist online expansion due to cannibalisation concerns. Sweepstakes casinos are the legal alternative for Missouri players wanting online casino-style games.

How many casinos are there in Missouri?

Missouri has 13 licensed riverboat casinos operating along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, concentrated around Kansas City and St. Louis. Unlike traditional riverboats, Missouri's casinos are now permanently moored or built over shallow ponds — the original requirement to actually cruise was eventually dropped. There are no tribal casinos in Missouri.

Does Missouri have tribal casinos?

No. While tribal gaming has been technically possible in Missouri since federal legislation in 1988, no Missouri tribe has successfully negotiated a gaming compact with the state government. All 13 of Missouri's casinos are commercial properties.

Is online horse racing betting available in Missouri?

Missouri has no active horse racing tracks, but pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast races is legal and available through online platforms such as FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires. These platforms accept Missouri players for wagering on races from tracks across the US.

What responsible gambling resources are available in Missouri?

The Missouri Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-888-BETSOFF (1-888-238-7633), available 24/7. The Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling (macpg.org) provides statewide resources and treatment referrals. The Missouri Gaming Commission also funds responsible gambling programmes through a percentage of sports betting tax revenue under Amendment 2's requirements.

Missouri Gambling Laws and Regulation

Missouri gambling is regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC), which oversees all 13 riverboat casino licences, charitable gaming, DFS, and — since December 2025 — online sports betting. Gambling laws are primarily codified in Chapter 572 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Missouri defines gambling as risking something of value on a contest of chance, and all forms of legal gambling must be explicitly authorised by state law or constitutional amendment.

Online casino gaming is prohibited under this framework because no statute authorises it. Sweepstakes casinos, however, operate outside the gambling framework — their no-purchase-necessary model removes the consideration element required to constitute illegal gambling under Missouri law.

Sports betting was added to Missouri's constitution via Amendment 2, approved November 2024. This was the vehicle that allowed sports betting without specific statutory amendment. The Missouri Gaming Commission developed and implemented the regulatory framework, opening licence applications in May 2025 and launching the market on December 1, 2025.

Missouri Gambling History

Missouri was relatively late to the gambling legalisation wave compared to neighbouring states. Charitable bingo was legalised in 1980. The Missouri Lottery was established in 1985, with the first lottery draw taking place in 1986 — lottery proceeds fund education programmes. Pari-mutuel wagering was legalised in 1984, though Missouri has never sustained an active horse racing track and wagering is now available only through online simulcast platforms.

The landmark development came when Missouri voters approved riverboat casino gambling in 1992, with over 60% in favour. The first modern casino — the Admiral riverboat — welcomed passengers in May 1994. The original legislation required casinos to actually cruise the rivers, with two-hour gambling cruises as the product. This requirement was eventually relaxed for safety reasons, and Missouri's "riverboats" evolved into permanently docked or shore-based facilities while retaining the regulatory framework. The Missouri Gaming Control Act authorised up to 13 casino licences in 10 geographical zones.

Daily fantasy sports were explicitly legalised in Missouri in 2016. Sports betting took far longer — multiple legislative attempts failed through 2018-2023 before Amendment 2 finally put the question directly to voters in 2024. The narrow approval launched one of the most anticipated sports betting markets in the country, with projections of nearly $4 billion in first-year handle and over $50 million in annual tax revenue.

Missouri's 13 Riverboat Casinos

Missouri's casino industry is built around 13 riverboat-origin properties along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The main concentrations are in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas:

Kansas City Area

• Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Kansas City: On the Missouri River in Kansas City. 2,800+ slot and video poker machines, 50+ table games, a poker room, hotel, spa, and dining.
• Harrah's North Kansas City: Part of the Caesars network; slots, table games, hotel, and entertainment.
• Argosy Casino Riverside: In Riverside, north of Kansas City; slots, table games, and hotel.
• Hollywood Casino Kansas City: Operated by PENN Entertainment; slots, table games, and a sportsbook.

St. Louis Area

• Hollywood Casino St. Louis (Maryland Heights): 120,000 square feet of gambling space; approximately 2,200 slot machines and 80 table games; one of the largest casinos in Missouri.
• River City Casino (Lemay): 90,000 square feet; approximately 2,000 slots and 55 gaming tables. Sports bar and music venue on-site.
• Horseshoe St. Louis: Part of the Caesars network; full-service casino with hotel.
• Lumiere Place (downtown St. Louis): Slots, table games, and hotel near the Gateway Arch.

Statewide Venues

• Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel Boonville: On the Missouri River in Boonville; 900+ gaming machines and 20 table games.
• Mark Twain Casino (LaGrange): A smaller venue on the Mississippi River; 600+ gaming machines and table games.
• Century Casino Cape Girardeau: The site of Missouri's first legal sports bet on December 1, 2025; a significant riverside venue in the Bootheel region.

Responsible Gambling in Missouri

• Missouri Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-BETSOFF (1-888-238-7633), available 24/7. Confidential support, counselling referrals, and treatment resources.
• Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling: Statewide resources and treatment referrals at macpg.org.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
• MGC Self-Exclusion: The Missouri Gaming Commission administers voluntary self-exclusion covering all 13 licensed casinos and all licensed sports betting operators. Amendment 2 mandated that at least $5 million or 10% of sports betting tax revenue go to responsible gambling programmes annually.

References

1. Missouri Gaming Commission
2. Missouri Lottery
3. Online gambling: are players at risk of prosecution?
4. American Gaming Association