Underdog Fantasy Confirms Plan to Enter Missouri Sports Betting Market
An Underdog Fantasy representative has confirmed the company will apply for a Missouri sports betting license when the state opens its application window. This marks potential expansion for the company, which currently operates online sports betting in North Carolina and holds licenses in Colorado and Ohio.
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Jeremy Levine, Underdog Fantasy's Founder and CEO, has emphasized the company's aggressive expansion strategy into sports betting markets across the U.S. The company already offers daily fantasy sports contests in Missouri through its Champions and Draft platforms.
Under Missouri's legislation, the state can issue:
- 19 retail sports betting licenses
- 21 online sports betting licenses
- One retail and one online license per professional sports franchise and land-based casino
- Each entity can partner with one online betting operator
The Missouri sports betting launch faces delays after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the Gaming Commission's emergency rules application. Key timeline updates:
- Original target: Early summer launch
- Rules submitted to governor's office: Early February 2024
- New rules effective date (if approved): August 30, 2024
- Statutory deadline for launch: December 1, 2025
If approved, Missouri would become Underdog Fantasy's fourth active sports betting license in the United States, joining other major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings in the market.