Missouri’s First Full NFL Season Underway With Legal Sports Wagering
With the 2026 NFL regular season starting on 9 September, Missouri is entering its first full NFL season since the state launched its regulated sports betting market on 1 December last year.
Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 on 5 November, 2024, making the state the 39th in the US to legalize sports betting, with the market launching slightly over a year later in 2025.
The state’s gambling regulator, the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC), initially set a target of $25 million in sports betting tax revenue during its first year of regulated sports betting.
However, nine months down the line, the state has collected $11 million in taxes so far, leaving a $14 million shortfall with three months still remaining.
Despite the gap, the commission remains confident that it can reach its annual target, with the NFL expected to drive increased betting activity. The MGC’s Executive Director, Mike Leara, said, “Over the next several months, three or four months, we expect the rest of that $14 million to probably come through. Whatever revenues are generated, we’ll collect the tax on, but we’re still comfortable with the $25 million for the first year.”
