Missouri Online Casinos and Gambling Sites
Missouri has a mixed stance on gambling, allowing some forms while outlawing others.
It was one of the earliest states to legalize riverboat casinos, doing so in 1993. However, sports betting and online gambling remain unregulated in The Show-Me State.
Regarding the latter, Missouri online casinos are available through offshore operators as well as poker sites, and sportsbooks.
Are these gambling sites legal and safe to use?
You can find out here as we cover the intricacies of the MO gambling market, including its casinos, lottery games, charitable gaming, and poker rooms.
Gambling Highlights
Want to gamble in Missouri? The following table provides a snapshot of what forms of gambling are legal in the state.
From online casinos to land-based casinos and other forms of gambling such as state lottery.
Is Gambling Legal?
Yes
Legal Gambling Age
18-21
Land-Based Casinos
Yes
Online Casinos
Gray Area
Land-Based Sports Betting
No
Online Sportsbooks
Gray Area
Legal State Lottery
Yes
Charitable Gambling
Yes
Table of Contents
Everything You Need to Start Playing
Is Online Gambling Legal in Missouri?
Key Takeaways
- There are some intricacies to the gambling laws in Missouri.
- Online gambling is possible through offshore sites.
- Different gambling venues are available in MO.
- Online gambling winnings are subject to taxes.
Online gambling isn’t explicitly illegal or legal in Missouri. The law simply doesn’t address it.
Since it isn’t outright banned, residents can play at offshore sites without fear. No one has ever been prosecuted for betting at an online casino licensed elsewhere.
While there are no state-regulated real-money online casinos, Missouri does offer several social casinos where you can play for free. There are even sweepstakes casinos that let you cash in virtual coins for prizes.
Take an in-depth look at Missouri’s gambling legislation.
Best Online Casinos in 2024
We’ve reviewed dozens of gambling sites to find the ones that outshine the rest. Our top picks have incredible games, outstanding user experience, and the most lucrative bonuses.
Below are the best Missouri online casinos.
| RANK | CASINO | BONUS | PAYOUT SPEED | LICENSED | TOTAL GAMES | SLOTS | OUR RATING | CLICK TO PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DuckyLuck Casino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-5 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 699 | SLOTS 600 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 2 |
Bovada Casino |
BONUS 125% up to $3,750 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 549 | SLOTS 435 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 3 |
SlotsandCasino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-2 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 691 | SLOTS 594 | OUR RATING 3.9 / 5 | Play Now |
| 4 |
BetUS |
BONUS 150% up to $3,000 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-7 days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 491 | SLOTS 367 | OUR RATING 4.5 / 5 | Play Now |
| 5 |
Cafe Casino |
BONUS 350% up to $2,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 547 | SLOTS 384 | OUR RATING 3.5 / 5 | Play Now |
Top MO Online Casinos by Category
Some online casinos outperform others in certain categories, and your preferences might determine the best site for you.
Take a look at the main features of our top Missouri gambling sites.
Best Site for Casino Games & Live Dealer
Fans of table games will feel at home at DuckyLuck. This online casino has everything you need, from blackjack and roulette to craps and poker. It also has a rewards program that gives you perks like cashback and exclusive bonuses.
The leading software provider, FreshDeck Studios, supplies live dealer games with HD streaming. You can find blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tables with varying limits.
Top Features
- A wide selection of table games
- Rewards program with big perks
- Cutting-edge live dealer studios
Best Online Casino for Slots
Red Dog Casino has significantly expanded its selection of online slot games, now offering nearly 700 options, including popular titles such as Blazin’ Buffalo, Book of Magic: Anubis Trail, and Quest to the West.
The casino has improved its organization with clear subsections and a search bar.
Additionally, it introduces an engaging Mission concept, allowing players to complete quests, earn points, and climb a leaderboard for added entertainment and more opportunities to win money.
Top Features
- Growing slots offering
- Free $15 chip
- Well-organized game lobby
Best Sports Betting Site
Bovada, a well-established online sportsbook with over 20 years of experience serving US residents, provides a wide range of sports betting opportunities, covering major American leagues, college events, soccer, boxing, and more.
Users enjoy flexibility in deposit methods, including cryptocurrency, credit cards, and Matchpay. The withdrawal process is efficient, usually completing within 1-24 hours.
It’s important to note that the 15.9% fee for credit card deposits is high. Additionally, Bovada serves as an online casino for those seeking a platform that offers both sports betting and casino games.
Top Features
- Has stood the test of time
- Complete sportsbook and casino offering
- 24/7 online support
How We Choose the Best Online Casinos
We constantly test and review new casino sites, risking our cash to ensure that our recommendations are fully vetted.
Reputation
We get a general feel for how the casino is received by reading multiple reviews from varying sources.Fast & Reliable Payments
We check for quick and reliable payouts by depositing and withdrawing.Security & Safety
We verify the site uses SSL encryption, which keeps your personal information safe.Games Variety
We sift and play through the game catalog at a casino to look for variety and quality.Quality Bonuses
We dive into the bonuses at a site and read the fine print to ensure fair terms and conditions.
Top Online Casino Games for Real Money
You can play just about any gambling game online if you live in the Show-Me State. Let’s take a closer look at all the games available to you.
Online Slots
Missourians can gamble at offshore sites that offer thousands of real money slots with different themes, features, and betting limits.
Online slots tend to have much higher RTPs and bet minimums that can be as low as 1¢.
Online Poker
Residents of Missouri can access tons of real money poker games online at offshore sites.
Many of them offer multiple variants like Caribbean Stud, Tri-Card, and Ride ‘Em. It’s also easy to find daily tournaments.
Online Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Missourians can find just about any variant they want online with the added benefit of lower bet minimums.
Offshore sites have an assortment of titles like Perfect Pairs, Spanish 21, and Rolling Stack.
Live Dealer Games
Live games are the closest you can get to playing at a land-based casino without ever having to leave your couch.
You can hop into a real-time table game game from your computer and watch as a human dealer uses actual cards or a roulette wheel.
Other Online Casino Games for MO
You can find more than just your standard gambling games on the internet, like Keno, bingo, and scratch cards. Check out some of the other options below.
Online Casino Bonuses
Gambling online means you can access a virtually endless selection of bonuses, especially if you’re a new player.
Here are some examples of the types of offers you’ll find.
Welcome Bonuses
Large introductory offers that nearly every online gambling site provides to new players.
Free Spin Offers
Promotional deals that give you a set number of free rounds on specific games.
Reload Deals
Get additional bonus cash when you deposit additional funds or top off your account.
Our Favorite Casino Bonuses at Missouri Sites
Take a look at the top two offers for Missourians below.
500% up to $7,500 + 150 free spins
Newcomers to DuckyLuck can claim a 500% up to $7,500 + 150 free spins bonus
The rollover requirements are just 30x, and the max cashout is 10x the deposit.
Just deposit a minimum of $25 and click “claim this promotion.”
$8,000 Welcome Package
Red Dog has a huge 225% match up to $8,000 Welcome Package.
The max payout for this offer is 30x the bonus, and the rollover requirements are 40x.
Just deposit a minimum of $20 and use code PATIO to claim.
No-Deposit Bonuses in Missouri
Although no-deposit bonuses have become few and far between, some casinos still offer them. MO players can use Red Dog Casino’s $15 Free Chip to get a taste of real money gaming at their site.
Missouri Casino Apps
You can play all your favorite games from your mobile device in Missouri.
Although no state-regulated online casinos exist, many offshore sites are already optimized to work directly in your browser, so downloads aren’t necessary.
You won’t notice a difference in quality from your computer to your phone or tablet. All you need to do is create an account or log in if you already have one, and you’re good to go.
Facts About Online Casinos for MO Players
- Missourians can take advantage of a legal loophole and play at offshore gambling sites worry-free.
- Most offshore sites accept players from Missouri.
- The game selection online is much larger than at land-based Missouri casinos.
- Many offshore sites are licensed and must adhere to strict standards and regulations.
- Cryptocurrency is often widely accepted by offshore sites and is one of the most secure banking methods.
- Many offshore sites won’t allow you to deposit or withdraw directly from or to a US bank account.
Missouri Gambling Laws Summary
Missouri permits some forms of gambling. “Riverboat” casinos, the state lottery, charitable gambling, poker, and daily fantasy sports are legal. However, some of the more popular types of gambling, like sports betting and at-home games, are illegal.
Online casinos are not authorized to operate in the state, but gambling at sites licensed elsewhere isn’t explicitly outlawed.
Below is a summary of Missouri gambling laws for quick reference.
| Missouri Gambling | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Land-Based Casinos in Missouri | Land-based casinos are legal in Missouri, and there are currently 13 establishments throughout the state. |
| Online Gambling | Online gambling isn’t addressed by the Missouri Gaming Commission’s Rules and Regulations, so it exists in a grey area. There are no online casinos operating in the state, but residents can play at offshore sites. |
| Sports Betting | Both land-based and online sports betting are illegal in Missouri. |
| State Lottery | Missouri offers several types of state-run lotteries, like scratch-offs, Cash4Life, and MegaMillions. |
| Charitable Gambling | Charitable gambling is legal by licensed organizations and overseen by Missouri’s Charitable Gaming Division. It includes bingo, pull tabs, and merchandise coin boards. |
| Poker | Poker is legal at licensed casinos in Missouri, but there are no standalone poker rooms. |
| Horse & Dog Racing | Dog racing is illegal in Missouri. Horse race betting is legal, but there are no longer any operational tracks in the state. |
| Fantasy Sports | Daily Fantasy Sports are legal in Missouri, and residents can access ten licensed DFS sites. |
| Social Gambling | Games of chance, including poker, played at home are only legal if no money is wagered and no fee is collected. |
| Taxes on Gambling Winnings | Any prize on an electronic device or table game jackpot of $1,200 or above is subject to a 4% withholding and 24% federally. |
Disclaimer: The information on this page does not, nor does it intend to, constitute legal advice. This page is for learning purposes and may not have the most up-to-date information year-round. Readers should contact their attorney and/or accountant for advice concerning any particular legal matter. Do not take any action without first contacting a lawyer in your state.
Missouri Gambling Laws: A Deep Dive
There are some intricacies to the gambling laws in Missouri. The state seems to have a complicated stance on the topic. On one hand, it has legalized multiple forms of gambling, but on the other, the stipulations can be a little tricky.
We are going to take a deep dive into what’s legal and what isn’t in the Show-Me State.
Land-Based Casinos
Initially, the only “land-based” casinos permitted in Missouri were riverboats. The law has since been amended and now includes any establishment that is in or on the banks of the Mississippi or Missouri River.
There are a total of 13 of these “riverboat” casinos in Missouri, some permanently moored over water and some on land nearby.
There are no tribal casinos in the state, although the Osage tribe is seeking federal approval to build a casino on Lake Ozark.
Horse & Dog Tracks
Horse race betting is legal in Missouri, but interestingly enough, there is nowhere to do so. The last operational track closed over 100 years ago in 1911.
On top of that, the law prohibits off-track betting sites, so Missourians have limited options.
The law doesn’t address dog racing, but there are no tracks in Missouri. However, residents can travel to the closest location in Collinsville, Illinois, to bet on horse races.
Bingo, Lottery
and Charitable Gambling
Bingo provided by a licensed religious, fraternal, charitable, veteran, or service organization is legal in Missouri. The same applies to other forms of charitable gambling like pull-tabs and free promotional events.
The Missouri State Lottery offers a wide array of games, including MegaMillions, Powerball, Club Keno, Cash4Life, scratch-off, and pull-tabs.
Social Gaming at Home
Social gaming is allowed in Missouri under certain conditions. The games must be played at a private residence, no money may be wagered, no one can collect a rake or commission, and everyone has to have an equal chance at winning.
With that said, law enforcement doesn’t seem to concern themselves too much with small at-home games.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
Poker is legal at licensed casinos in Missouri, and there are five poker rooms throughout the state. Since casinos are the only place poker is permitted, there are no standalone clubs.
The biggest poker room is inside the Hollywood Casino St. Louis, where you can choose from 20 tables with a mix of Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em. It hosts daily tournaments featuring No Limit Hold ‘Em, Bounty, Double Stack, and Mega Stack.
Sports
Betting
Both land-based and online sports betting are illegal in Missouri. A bill to reverse that ruling failed to pass in 2023 despite support from multiple sports teams. For now, bettors can travel to legal sports books in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, and Iowa.
Since the law doesn’t specifically prohibit it, another option is to sign up at an offshore sportsbook and place wagers there.
Casinos in Missouri
There are 13 casinos throughout the state of Missouri, all of them located on or near a body of water. While they are approved to provide table games, a few of them only have the electronic variety. Take a look at all the locations on the interactive map below.
Top Casinos
- Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
- Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
- Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
- Century Casino in Cape Girardeau
- Harrah’s in North Kansas City
Casinos Summary
- Casinos: 13
- Poker Rooms: 5
Missouri Gambling vs. Neighboring States
Missouri is surrounded by eight states with varying gambling laws. How do they compare? Let’s take a look.
| State | Is some form of Gambling Legal? | Legal Gambling Age | Legal Land-Based Casinos | Playing at Online Casinos | Legal Sports Betting | Legal State Lottery | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | Yes | 18-21 | Legal | Grey Area | Not Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Illinois | Yes | 18-21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Iowa | Yes | 21+ | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Nebraska | Yes | 19-21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Kansas | Yes | 18-21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Oklahoma | Yes | 18-21 | Legal | Grey Area | Not Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Arkansas | Yes | 18-21 | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Tennessee | Yes | 18-21 | Not Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Kentucky | Yes | 18+ | Not Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
With so many states bordering Missouri, you get quite the mixed bag of gambling laws. Some states like Kentucky and Tennessee have outright banned casinos but legalized sports betting both in person and online.
Others, like Illinois and Iowa, are in the middle of the two extremes with legal casinos and sports betting. Missouri is slightly more conservative than that, but perhaps that will change over the next few years.
A Brief History of MO Gambling
Gambling in Missouri started with the legalization of charitable Bingo in 1980. Four years later, the lottery was introduced, and the Missouri State Lottery Commission was founded.
The state authorized its first riverboat casinos in 1993, with two opening in 1994, followed by two more in 1995. The next year, voters decided the riverboats didn’t need to cruise and were allowed to remain permanently docked.
An amendment took it a step further in 1998 and loosened the law to permit casinos to be within 1,000 feet of a river as long as it was on some body of water. Between then and 2013, the remaining nine casinos opened.
It wasn’t until 2021 that the law was amended again, this time with an interesting loophole that dictated a casino must contain 2,000 gallons of water beneath or inside the structure.
In the future, the Missouri Gaming Commission will have the ability to approve a land-based building with the simple addition of a pool.
When it comes to online gambling, the Show-Me State attempted to legalize sports betting in 2023. Unfortunately, the bill passed the House but failed in the Senate.
Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The Missouri Gaming Commission offers several resources for those who feel they may have a gambling addiction. You can find links to several organizations and a self-assessment brochure.
Here are some other resources for gambling addiction in Missouri:
For more information, visit our responsible gambling page.
Summary: Missouri’s Gambling Journey
Missouri’s gambling journey has been a series of baby steps, and the state has slowly but steadily evolved to accept different forms of gambling.
Now that the law has become more lenient about riverboat casinos, we can expect them to begin taking to land.
Since Missouri does not address online gambling, residents have the freedom to play at offshore sites, where they can find everything from blackjack and poker to slots and Keno.
Although a bill to legalize sports betting failed to pass in 2023, there is already an initiative to put it on the ballot in 2024.
Perhaps one day, Missouri will have its own state-regulated online casinos, but until then, there are plenty of options for gamblers in the Show-Me State.
