Share
BetMGM, one of the leading sportsbooks in the country, has secured a partnership with Century Casino & Hotel Cape Girardeau to offer online and mobile sports betting in Missouri when the state launches sports wagering on December 1. This is the first partnership announced since Missouri opened its sports betting license application window last month.
“We are excited to partner with BetMGM, a leading online sports betting and gaming entertainment company with a dynamic and innovative brand,” Century Casinos co-CEOs Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger said in a statement about Century’s partnership with BetMGM. “This partnership is another step forward in leveraging our Missouri licenses and delivering entertainment experiences for our customers.”
Per the Missouri Gaming Commission’s (MGC) regulations for sports betting, Missouri casinos like Century Cape Girardeau are allowed to partner with up to two sports betting operators to offer sports wagering. Additionally, operators such as BetMGM can earn a license through a partnership with a land-based casino or professional sports team, or apply for one of two standalone ‘untethered’ licenses, which don’t require a casino or team partnership.
What BetMGM’s Missouri licensing means for sports bettors
The news of BetMGM’s partnership with Century Cape Girardeau means that, when sports betting launches in Missouri on December 1, existing BetMGM s and new customers will need to create a Missouri-specific to make sports wagers on the platform in the Show Me State.
Once existing s in Missouri, they can switch between states in their app. For example, if a BetMGM places a wager in Illinois in the morning and then travels to Missouri in the evening, they can open the app once they’re in Missouri, scroll down, and tap on Missouri.
Ahead of the launch, bettors should keep an eye out for BetMGM promos. The company will likely offer no-sweat first bets or deposit matches for all new customers who sign up for its Missouri platform. A no-sweat first bet means that if your initial wager loses, BetMGM will credit your with a bonus bet of equal value, up to a specified limit ( and conditions will apply). Deposit-match promos typically match a bettor’s first deposit up to a certain amount, essentially doubling the dollars a new customer has to wager.
If approved by the MGC, Missouri would become the 23rd state where BetMGM operates. Additionally, it would further solidify the platform’s standing as one of the top-five sportsbooks in the country. While its handle figures aren’t nearly as robust as leading sportsbooks FanDuel and DraftKings, BetMGM often battles Caesars for the third spot in shared markets. For example, BetMGM brought in roughly $58.2 million in handle from its sports betting partner in Illinois in March (the most recent month data is available), while Caesars Sportsbook generated $63.5 million from its two online sports betting partners.
What to expect from Missouri sports betting over the next few months
With the sports betting licensing application window opening this past month, expect a flurry of new partnership announcements in the coming weeks. The applications for casino-based partnerships close in September, but the deadline for the two untethered licenses comes earlier, in July.
bet365 secured a marketing partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this year, presumably paving the way for a sports betting license.
It’s highly likely we’ll see DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook reveal their partners this month. Similar announcements should come from smaller players in the sports betting market, such as ESPN Bet, Fanatics, and BetRivers.
All Missouri bettors, whether BetMGM customers or patrons of other brands, should watch the announcements closely. Assuming that the major and minor sportsbooks mentioned above earn a license after the application window closes in September, we should see promo offers rolling out through October and November. There are no rules about how many sportsbooks a Missouri sports bettor can sign up for, so those looking for no-sweat first bets or deposit matches can take advantage of as many offers as they’d like. That being said, it’s important to read the fine print that comes with these offers, as you may find certain restrictions and limitations that can affect your eligibility for a promotional offer.
Finally, that sportsbooks use geolocation technology to your location, so you must be physically within Missouri state lines to and place bets.
