Legislators in the state of Missouri have been pushing for legalized sports betting dating all the way back to January 2018, even before the abolishment of PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.
Below we’ll cover all aspects of sports betting in Missouri. This includes current gaming infrastructure, to early attempts at sports betting, to the 2022 effort. Plus, we’ll forecast what the future might hold for the Show-Me State.
While Missouri waits for sports betting legislation, Kansas has already crossed the finish line. Bettors in Missouri can stroll across the state line and wager legally with any of Kansas’ top sports betting apps. You just need to be inside the state of Kansas when you place your bet.
Gambling in Missouri
Missouri has a long history of in-state gambling, originating in 1984 when the “Show Me State” first approved its very own state lottery. Much like many of the other states bordering the Mississippi River, Missouri decided to legalize riverboat casinos in 1992. That made it one of the first Midwestern states to authorize casino gambling of any kind.
The decision also resulted in the foundation of the Missouri Gaming Commission. That was a unit developed to regulate the state’s riverboat casinos. The first two casino boats officially set sail in 1994, marking the first time legalized casino gambling took place in Missouri.
The Missouri Gaming Commission still exists today. It oversees all gaming in the state, from the riverboat casinos to daily fantasy sports contests.
(Shutterstock)
Daily fantasy betting and HB 2320
Similar to casino gambling, daily fantasy sports were not offered in Missouri for quite some time. All of that changed in 2016, when the state legalized and began regulating DFS contests offered by various third-party operators.
This was a vital part of the ongoing process towards legalizing sports betting in Missouri, as House Bill 2320, a placeholder used to jumpstart the sports betting conversation in the state, proposed the idea of allowing DFS operators to add sports betting to their menu of services.
With top-notch bookmakers like FanDuel and DraftKings already offering their DFS platforms in Missouri, the idea of adding sports betting only made sense.
Check out the rest of this page for a detailed history of the state’s ongoing legal battle, potential future operators, banking options, and everything else there is to know about legalized sports betting in Missouri.
Missouri sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Missouri?
No, sports betting is still not legal in Missouri yet. They’ve been trying, but just can’t seem to get across the finish line. We’ll keep you posted.
When will online sports betting be legal in Missouri?
After missing out on 2022, legislators will need to wait until at least 2023 to legalize online sports betting in Missouri.
Do I have to be in Missouri to bet with a Missouri online sportsbook?
If and when online sports betting is legalized in Missouri, players will need to remain within state lines in order to place wagers with any of Missouri’s legal online sportsbooks.
What kind of sports betting bonuses will be available in Missouri?
While it will ultimately depend on which operators open their virtual doors for business in the Show Me State, bettors in Missouri can expect their fair share of risk-free bets, deposit matches, free bets, and tons of other incredible sports betting bonus offers.
What is the legal age to bet on sports in Missouri?
If and when sports betting is legalized in Missouri, it will most likely come with an age requirement of 21 years or older.
It would “authorize the Missouri Gaming Commission to establish standards and procedures for sports wagering” in the state, if passed.
If approved, HB 2320 would allow any person or entity that is licensed to operate excursion gambling boats to begin offering sports wagering as well.
The bill also suggested the idea of allowing daily fantasy sports providers, like DraftKings or FanDuel, to add sports betting to their menu of available offerings. The first known version of HB 2320 failed to mention any details in regards to licensing, fees, or taxes.
Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association get involved
Nearly two weeks later on February 14, 2018, it was revealed that a new, unnamed sports betting bill was introduced in Missouri. This time it’s being pushed by Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association. The two leagues did so in hopes of acquiring data rights, along with receiving a 1% integrity fee on each bet placed.
On February 22, 2018, a new pair of bills known as the “Comprehensive Missouri Sports Betting and Sports Protection Act” were brought to the table courtesy of state senator Denny Hoskins (Senate Bill 1013) and state representative Dean Plocher (House Bill 2535).
Both bills would authorize sports betting on Missouri’s riverboats and online, along with adhering to MLB and the NBA’s requests to control league data and receive integrity fees. The bills also included a 12% tax on adjusted gross receipts and a 2% administrative fee for the Gaming Commission Fund.
The modified bill described how existing casinos would handle sports betting, including the implementation of retail books at these locations. The bill also detailed the application process for those seeking a license. If passed, SB767 would include:
a $10,000 application fee,
a $5,000 annual renewal fee,
the same 12% tax rate, and
2% administrative fee mentioned in the Comprehensive Missouri Sports Betting and Sports Protection Act above.
Dean Plocher’s HB 2535, one half of the Comprehensive Missouri Sports Betting and Sports Protection Act, would also be examined, along with a brand new House Bill 2406. Introduced by Representative Justin Alferman, HB 2406 called for a much lower 6.25% tax on sports betting revenues, as opposed to the 12% rate proposed by HB 2535.
Both HB 2406 and HB 2535 would also allow for sports betting on mobile under the condition that players register for an account in person.
That was a part of the reason why legislation was unlikely to pass before the May 18th deadline. It ultimately ended up being correct. No bill was passed, officially closing the books on any hopes of legalizing sports betting in Missouri in 2018.
Two new bills at the end of the year
Plocher remained persistent however, stating in November 2018 that he anticipates the sports betting discussion to pick up where it left off once the House and Senate return to session in January 2019.
Just a few days later, Sen. Hoskins pre-filed another bill for 2019, one that would cut the proposed 1% integrity fee in half to 0.5%, redirecting all proceeds to a brand new “Entertainment Facilities Infrastructure Fund” that would go towards improving the state’s convention centers and recreational facilities.
Aside from this caveat, Hoskins’ new bill was essentially a carbon copy of SB 1013.
Smith’s bill provided a major twist on the aforementioned league fees, offering a three-quarters of one percent royalty fee to the professional leagues and a one-quarter of one percent royalty fee to the NCAA for wagers involving at least one FBS football team or Division I men’s basketball team.
The bill also stated that any royalties received by public universities would be ‘used solely for athletics compliance’. It also offered a much lower 6.25% tax on adjusted gross revenue.
2019: Key issues halt progress
Missouri’s 2019 legislative session kicked off with three bills in circulation: Hoskins’ SB 44, Smith’s HB 119, and Senator Lincoln Hough’s new Senate Bill 222, which came with a 6.75% proposed tax rate.
Hough’s SB 222 fared much better in front of the Senate Economic Development Committee. It was opposed by the professional leagues due to no mention of a payout for them. House Bill 859, the House version of Hough’s Senate Bill 222, also surfaced during this time and received a second reading right out of the gate.
HB 119, pre-filed in December 2018 by Rep. Cody Smith, was amended to include a 0.6 percent “entry and facilities infrastructure fee” and would allow for up to three online “skins” per license holder. The House General Laws Committee voted it through, 7-3, and HB 119 would now move onto the House floor.
Among the key issues debated were the league’s integrity fees and whether or not players will be allowed to register for an account online, both seemingly holding back the process.
After attending five hearings on sports betting towards the end of the 2019 calendar year, members of the Special Interim Committee on Gaming believed that Missouri’s reluctance to pass any sort of sports betting legislation was going to end up harming the state, as 18 others would have legalized sports betting by the turn of 2020.
Both bills would also allow for remote registration, but differed greatly in terms of taxes and fees:
SB 567
SB 754
Taxes
9%
6.25%
Royalties
0.25%
0.75%
Application fees
$25K
$10K
Annual administrative fees
$50K first year, $10K every five years
$5K per year, $10K every five years
2020: Pandemic looms large
Missouri’s 2020 legislative session got off to a hot start on January 30th when Representative Dan Shaul’s new House Bill 2088 cleared the state’s House Special Committee on Government Oversight.
The bill, which sought to legalize both retail and online sports betting in the state, came with a 0.25% royalty to the professional leagues and the NCAA, a 9% tax rate on sports betting revenue, and an official league data requirement.
Under HB 2088, future operators would be required to pay $25,000 to apply for a Missouri sports betting license, $50,000 for the license itself if selected, and an additional fee of $10,000 every five years. On top of sports betting, HB 2088 also addressed video lottery terminals.
Rep. Cody Smith, the original sponsor of HB 119, unveiled a brand new House Bill 2284 at the hearing. It originally required sportsbooks to pay a 0.25% royalty to the MGC on “sporting events conducted by registered sports governing bodies.”
This caveat was later removed by Smith, who appeared before the Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight alongside Representative Phil Christofanelli, a Republican who authored House Bill 2318.
HB 2318 did not include any provisions on official league data, proposed a 6.75% tax rate on sports betting revenue, and was weighed by the committee with the intent of combining it with HB 2284.
Unfortunately for residents of Missouri, the COVID-19 pandemic affected areas all over the world in March 2020. The majority of the nation went on lockdown for parts of March and April. It effectively ended any possibility of lawmakers getting legalization done in 2020.
All three bills would legalize retail and mobile sports betting under the condition that platforms are tethered to brick-and-mortars in the state and overseen by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Like many of the state’s previous competing bills, the three bills differed in terms of application fees, tax rates, royalties, and the ongoing issue surrounding official league data.
Hoskins took control of the floor for most of the hearing, pestering Rowden about his bill’s minuscule proposed tax rate of 6.75%, which would easily be one of the lowest in the U.S. In comparison, Hoskins’ SB 98 would call for a 9% tax rate.
It would provide a royalty fee to the professional leagues, and would require the use of official league data. The Missouri Gaming Commission seemed to oppose all of them. Unfortunately for Hoskins, SB 98 failed to get voted off the Senate floor on April 27. That ruined any chances of getting it approved in 2021.
The pair of 2022-centric bills would include retail wagering at existing casinos, statewide digital sports betting, and reasonable tax rates and fees. Among the topics up for discussion would be:
The use of official league data;
Wagering on Missouri colleges/college sports;
In-person registration;
Wagering at pro sports venues.
Missouri professional sports teams make strong push
The proposal would appoint the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate all wagering. It would also limit betting to professional sports teams only. All tax dollars gained would be used to improve Missouri’s education system and road projects.
Each of the nine proposals, which are backed by the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues, and St. Louis City Soccer Club, would prevent Missourians from wagering on college sports, regardless of whether or not the game involves an in-state school.
House Bill 1666
As soon as the calendar turned to December, the first sports betting bill of 2022 was filed by Rep. Christofanelli. He authored House Bill 2318 two years prior. House Bill 1666 would call for a 6.75% tax rate and no league data mandate. It would also allow for sports governing bodies to ban specific events or bet types if necessary.
Licensees would get hit with a $50,000 application fee upfront along with an additional $20,000 in administrative fees. They would get another $20,000 in renewal fees in order to ensure their license remains active.
The Missouri Gaming Commission would oversee all operations. Third-party commercial operators would need to partner up with the state’s existing gambling boats in order to offer online wagering.
House Bill 2080
A fifth Missouri sports betting bill, yet another courtesy of Rep. Shaul, was filed at the end of December. Shaul’s HB 2080 would call for statewide digital wagering with no requirement for in-person registration.
It would also call a $50,000 application fee, and a 6.75% tax rate. It would allow bettors to wager on professional, college, amateur, and esports events. The condition would be that sports governing bodies have the right to ban or prohibit specific markets.
Under this legislation, the Royals, Chiefs, Blues, St. Louis City SC, and Kansas City Current would each be in line to receive an online skin or mobile platform. Casino operators would be entitled to three online skins per physical property owned – capped at six total skins. Tax would be set at 10% and the deal would include an official league data mandate.
In response to the pro team-casino operator proposal, Sen. Dan Hegeman and Luetkemeyer each filed bills reflecting a similar layout. Both Hegeman’s SB 1046 and Luetkemeyer’s SB 1061 would call for a $50,000 application fee for retail licenses, a $100,000 fee for digital licenses. It would allow teams to:
Build a sports district around their venues;
Appoint the Missouri Gaming Commission as regulator;
Set the tax rate at 10%;
Allow for the use of official league data on specific bets.
Senator Hoskins immediately expressed his concerns with the supergroup’s plans, as the longtime sports betting-backer continued to push for video lottery terminals in the state, something many others have opposed.
Promotional write-offs, problem gambling funding among key issues
A discussion between the Missouri House Committee took place in late February. There was a pair of new proposals in HB 2502 and HB 2556 headlining the talks. The bills’ proposed tax rate of 10% resulted in backlash from various members of the committee, drawing comparisons to neighboring Illinois’ 15% tax rate.
They cited three key areas to address when making changes to their proposal:
Problem gambling;
Off-site wagering fees;
Promotional write-offs.
In early March, the Missouri House Committee consolidated HB 2502 and HB 2556 into one solid bill to be known as HB 2502 in the House Special Committee on Public Policy. An amendment was added to the bill to raise the commitment for problem and responsible gambling from $250,000 to $500,000, thus getting the committee on board.
The amendment also tinkered with promotional play write-offs, now allowing brands a 100% write-off in the first year, with steps down over the following five years.
Cupps discussed the possibility of pledging even more money towards problem and responsible gambling. They raised the proposed tax rate of 10%, and hashed out the ongoing issue surrounding off-site user fees.
The debate continued
Later that month, Missouri’s House approved HB 2502 and HB 2556 to the Senate for further consideration. The bills, backed by a series of Missouri casinos and professional sports teams, would allow for statewide mobile wagering as well as retail wagering at existing brick-and-mortar casinos and carry a much lower tax rate of 8%.
Hoskins continued to oppose the low tax rate. He suggested his own proposal of 21% would generate more funds for the state’s educational system.
They stated that the franchise is committed to its current lease at Arrowhead Stadium. They explained that this location is set to run for at least nine more years.
The talks occurred after Kansas legislators added a late amendment to their sports betting bill that would devote 80% of tax dollars earned towards causes used to attract professional sports franchises into the state.
In the end, the biggest advocate for Missouri sports betting over the years ended up being the biggest roadblock of all. It was largely due to the fact that the proposed initiatives did not involve Hoskins’ requested video lottery terminals.
In exchange for crushing the bills, Hoskins offered up 153 other amendments to the chamber – one for every $1 million in tax revenue that he claimed would be lost by the state if sports betting is legalized without the implementation of video lottery terminals.
In a shocking turn of events, a brand new stand-alone sports betting bill was presented to stakeholders on the night, nine days before the session was set to end on the 13th. The proposal boasted a 15% tax rate, a $1.25 million annual fee per skin, three skins per casino company (capped at six), and one skin per professional sports team.
The bill did not include a full-blown legalization of Hoskins’ video lottery terminals. It would allow players to place parlays at lottery retailers throughout the state.
Immediately after those discussions ended, Hoskins took to Twitter to announce that although he attempted to pass a sports betting bill that night, he ultimately “ran into some resistance” and would be unable to do so, yet again. After being pestered by Senator Bill White over various concerns, Hoskins decided to pull the amendment and once again return to the drawing board.
Missouri sports betting right now
This leads us to right now. Where does sports betting currently stand in Missouri? While there’s been smoke for the better part of five years, they’ve yet to spark up a fire. The Missouri legislative session closed on May 13, 2022 without approving legal sports betting.
Missouri remains an island amid legal wagering states as final legislative day devolves into name-calling.
Potential online sportsbook operators in MO
If and when a proposal makes its way to the ballot and sports betting is eventually legalized in Missouri, commercial operators would certainly line up fast. While nothing is set in stone at the moment, various context clues can give us an idea on which brands are likely to arrive with the Missouri online market.
Caesars Sportsbook
The entertainment giant already owns and operates multiple casinos in the state. That includes Harrah’s North Kansas City, Horseshoe St. Louis, and Isle of Capri Boonville. It makes Caesars Sportsbook a clearcut option to launch in Missouri.
In February 2022, it was reported that Caesars had agreed to a deal with Fubo Gaming. That granted the company mobile sports betting market access in Missouri through one of its brick-and-mortar casinos. If gambling eventually does go live in the state, Caesars should be among the first brands interested.
Fubo Sportsbook
Despite only launching its new mobile sportsbook app in two different states thus far, Fubo Gaming is working fast and efficiently to expand throughout the United States. As mentioned above, Fubo Sportsbook secured a market access deal in its 10th state back in February. It was locked in Missouri through a partnership with Caesars Entertainment.
Barstool Sportsbook
Similar to Caesars Entertainment, Penn National Gaming already owns and operates its fair share of physical properties in the state.
Between the Argosy Casino Riverside, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and River City Casino, PNG should have more than enough mobile skins at its disposal to ensure that its very own Barstool Sportsbook can make waves in the Show Me State.
BetRivers
In February 2022, Rush Street Interactive announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Penn National Gaming. The deal effectively grants the company market access in Missouri, joining four other states currently awaiting BetRivers‘ arrival.
The popular sportsbook brand is already live in plenty of states. It should be considered a lock to add Missouri to its list following the news.
Bally Bet
Bally Bet is another up-and-coming online platform that is still working to get situated throughout the United States. Live in just a few thus far, the brand is expanding fast and could add Missouri to its list of future stops that already includes New York and Ontario.
Using its Bally’s Kansas City location as a point of entry, expect Bally Bet to make a push into Missouri at some point down the road.
FanDuel
Not only has FanDuel been providing its Daily Fantasy Sports services to Missouri since 2016, but the brand also has a longstanding relationship with Boyd Gaming, which owns and operates multiple casino properties in the state.
Boyd Gaming also owns a small stake in FanDuel and even agreed to a strategic partnership deal with the brand back in 2018, setting up FanDuel-branded retail sportsbooks at Boyd properties across the nation. With both the Ameristar Casino St. Charles and Kansas City currently up for grabs, we anticipate FanDuel linking up with Boyd Gaming ahead of any Missouri moves.
DraftKings
DraftKings, like FanDuel, has also been offering its DFS product in the state since 2016. Unlike FanDuel, DraftKings unfortunately does not have any pre-existing ties to the Missouri casino market.
Regardless, the bookmaking brand is easily one of the biggest in the nation. It is currently live in more than fifteen different states from Oregon to Connecticut. DraftKings should have no problem acquiring market access in Missouri if they choose to do so.
Potential land-based sportsbooks in MO
Missouri is home to its fair share of brick-and-mortar casinos. It leaves plenty of options open for whichever brands decide to eventually open up a retail sportsbook in the state. We expect all of the following locations to pursue sports betting opportunities when granted the ability to do so.
Land-Based Casino
Location
Retail Sportsbook Launch
Ameristar Casino
St. Charles
TBA
Ameristar Casino
Kansas City
TBA
Argosy Casino Riverside
Riverside
TBA
Bally's Kansas City
Kansas City
TBA
Century Casino Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau
TBA
Century Casino Caruthersville
Caruthersville
TBA
Harrah's North Kansas City
North Kansas City
TBA
Hollywood Casino St. Louis
Maryland Heights
TBA
Horseshoe St. Louis
St. Louis
TBA
Isle of Capri Boonville
Boonville
TBA
Mark Twain Casino
La Grange
TBA
River City Casino
St. Louis
TBA
St. Jo Frontier Casino
St. Joseph
TBA
Banking options in MO
Upon arrival, all of Missouri’s online sports betting platforms should offer players the same incredible deposit and withdrawal options previously used throughout other states. Missouri-based bettors can expect some variation of the following banking methods, depending on which provider they choose:
(1) PayPal
One of our go-to options for any and all banking needs, PayPal provides players with the fastest transactions in the industry and a plethora of different ways to send money to and from their digital wallet.
(2) Credit/Debit Card
Similar to swiping your card at the grocery store, players can actually use their credit or debit card to fund their online sportsbook account. Always be weary however, as many banks will often reject charges from iGaming companies, requiring players to use an alternative method.
(3) ACH/eCheck
Simply enter your online banking info one time and one time only and begin enjoying fast, free digital transactions to and from your bank account at the click of a button.
(4) Online Bank Transfer
Unlike ACH/eCheck, online bank transfers will require users to log back in using their online banking credentials each and every time they wish to make a transaction. It may not be as convenient, but it gets the job done and is useful for players who prefer to keep their accounts separated.
(5) Play+ Prepaid Card
If your credit or debit card gets rejected as described above, Play+ prepaid cards are the perfect solution. This third party digital card allows users to upload funds from their credit/debit card and send them over to whichever online sportsbook account is linked to the Play+ card. Shortly after registering for Play+, all users will also receive a physical copy of the card in the mail that can be used for real cash withdrawals at any ATM!
(6) PayNearMe
Players can now make in-person cash deposits at a variety of local retail locations, including 7-Eleven, Dollar General, and CVS, among many others. Just scan your code, pay at the register, and your funds will be waiting for you online immediately after!
(7) Cash at the Casino
Once all the online brands begin to hitch their wagons to the state’s land-based casinos, players should have the option to handle any banking needs in person at their sportsbook’s brick-and-mortar affiliate.
(8) Paper Check by Mail
Yes, some people still use physical paper checks. Turnaround times can take anywhere from 7-10 days, but most sportsbooks will offer the option, if requested.
Sports markets in MO
As soon as legalized sports betting goes live in Missouri, players located anywhere from St. Louis to Kansas City and everywhere in between will gain access to a wide range of sports markets to bet on. Home to some of the most successful franchises in professional sports over the past decade or so, Missouri is sure to cover all of the bases.
Whether you want to bet on Patrick Mahomes to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to another Super Bowl, the St. Louis Blues to replicate their magical run from 2019, or the St. Louis Cardinals to pull off another David Freese-esque miracle in the World Series, Missouri online sportsbooks should have it all.
Players can expect to choose from, but will not be limited to, the following sports markets:
Once you’ve selected the sports market(s) of your choosing, it’s time to lock in some action! With few restrictions discussed at any of the state’s hearings on sports betting thus far, players should end up with a full menu of bet types at their disposal.
The entire list of offerings will ultimately depend on the sportsbook provider you choose. However Missourians can expect to find any of the following bet types available on their app or website:
Whether or not residents of Missouri will be able to wager on college sports has been a hot debate over the last few years as different sports betting proposals have been brought to the table. We’ve already seen both ends of the spectrum being discussed among legislators.
Rep. Shaul’s HB 2080 pushed to allow wagering on college sports. A series of nine proposals from a group backed by the Chiefs, Royals, Blues and other local sports teams aimed to prevent it. We’ll wait and see what the legislature eventually agrees upon.
Division I college football teams in Missouri
If the state ultimately decides to ban wagering on all college sports, or just wagering on college teams located in Missouri, then unfortunately a few local favorites could get left off the board. Luckily for college football fans, there aren’t a ton of Division I football teams in the state:
Missouri Tigers (FBS)
Missouri State Bears (FCS)
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (FCS)
Division I college basketball teams in Missouri
While Mizzou is the only major football program in the state, Missouri college basketball has a much stronger presence. The state is home to five DI basketball programs that play in an assortment of respectable conferences. They include:
The Kansas City Chiefs were originally founded in 1959 as the Dallas Texans by AFL charter member Lamar Hunt. They wouldn’t get their current name until the team’s relocation in 1963. That was one year after Dallas won its first AFL Championship in 1962.
The franchise would go on to win its second AFL title in 1966 and another in 1969. It happened to be the final AFL Championship Game in history prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Following the team’s 1966 AFL title, the Chiefs went on to participate in Super Bowl I. It was the first installment of the NFL’s historic championship game.
Kansas City unfortunately fell to Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr’s Green Bay Packers, 35-10. The organization would return three years later for Super Bowl IV after winning the 1969 AFL title. They escape with a much better result this time around, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 for their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
The team would struggle for a bit throughout the 1970’s and early 80’s. They were failing to make the postseason from 1972 all the way until 1986.
The franchise experienced a ton of success in the early 1990’s, reaching the playoffs in seven out of eight seasons under Marty Schottenheimer from 1990-1997 – including a few years led by the great Joe Montana.
Despite this, Schottenheimer’s teams managed to make it past the Divisional Round just once, resulting in a 30-13 AFC Championship loss to the Buffalo Bills in 1994. This would mark the beginning of a dark era for the organization, resulting in zero playoff victories from 1994 until 2015.
Mahomes era
As many already may know, everything would change for the franchise once they drafted Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018, Mahomes has posted four straight 12-win seasons and has appeared in each of the last four AFC Championship games, winning two of them. After winning his first Super Bowl in 2019, Mahomes fell short of securing back-to-back titles as the Chiefs fell to Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9 in Super Bowl LV.
The odds for the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl 2023 are +460.
Kansas City Royals
League: Major League Baseball
Founded: 1969
Stadium: Kauffman Stadium
Location: Kansas City, MO
Partners/Sponsors: TBD
The Royals first entered Major League Baseball as an expansion franchise in 1969, joining the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Pilots. The organization spent its first three seasons playing its games at Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Athletics before the team moved to Oakland in 1968.
After moving into its permanent home at Kauffman Stadium in 1973, the young franchise quickly made its presence felt by reaching three consecutive ALCS from 1976-1978.
The Royals fell short in all three games but would return to the playoffs four more times over the next seven seasons, culminating in their first World Series title in 1985 over the in-state rival St. Louis Cardinals. The franchise would struggle a bit following the end of the George Brett era, notching just one winning season from 1995 until 2012.
The team spent a lot of this time building up its core from within, eventually resulting in homegrown talents such as Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, and Alex Gordon, among many others, leading the Royals to back to back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015.
After falling short the first time around to Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in a brutal Game 7, Kansas City avenged their defeat by securing the franchise’s second World Series title in 2015, a 4-1 series win over the New York Mets.
As the team continues to undergo somewhat of a rebuild, why not have some fun and take a stab on Bobby Witt Jr. to take home the American League Rookie of the Year award at +750?!
St. Louis Cardinals
League: Major League Baseball
Founded: 1882
Stadium: Busch Stadium
Location: St. Louis, MO
Partners/Sponsors: TBD
One of the oldest and most successful entities in Major League Baseball and professional sports in general, the St. Louis Cardinals organization dates all the way back to 1882 and owns 11 World Series titles, the second most in baseball history.
The franchise spent 18 seasons from 1882-1899 known as the St. Louis Brown Stockings, Browns, and Perfectos before permanently becoming the Cardinals in 1900. The club is responsible for some of the most important moments in the sport’s history. They include Branch Rickey’s implementation of a farm system in the 1920’s.
It resulted in four World Series titles during his run as manager/general manager from 1919-1942. Although Rickey moved on to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, the Cardinals success didn’t stop there. The team would go on to win two more titles in 1944 and 1946 led by the bat of the great Stan Musial.
The organization would fail to qualify for the postseason in each of the next 17 seasons, officially ending their playoff drought with a World Series title in 1964.
Led by Bob Gibson on the mound and Lou Brock on the base paths, St. Louis returned to the World Series just three years later in 1967, winning yet again with the same core before appearing in back-to-back championships and falling to the Detroit Tigers in 1968.
Following another thirteen-year drought with no playoffs, St. Louis captured its ninth World Series title in 1982. They were led by Hall of Fame skipper Whitey Herzog and legendary shortstop Ozzie Smith.
2006 brake through
Following the Mark McGwire era that resulted in a legendary homerun chase but little team success, it would take the historic franchise more than twenty years to secure its next championship. Manager Tony La Russa finally broke through in 2006 with his core consisting of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright. All of them were still playing for the team in 2022.
Five years later in 2011, lifted by the heroics of David Freese, the Redbirds rallied to secure their 11th World Series title over the Texas Rangers, a National League record that still stands today and is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
With three Redbird legends and likely Hall of Famers in Pujols and Molina retired at the end of the season 2022, Cardinals futures are looking awfully juicy at +2200!
St. Louis Blues
League: National Hockey League
Founded: 1967
Stadium: Enterprise Center
Location: St. Louis, MO
Partners/Sponsors: TBD
The Blues were originally founded in 1967 as one of six NHL expansion teams. The others were Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Oakland Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. The franchise spent its first 27 seasons playing at St. Louis Arena before permanently moving to the Enterprise Center in 1994.
Despite owning the most postseason appearances in NHL history outside of the Original Six, St. Louis only recently won its first ever Stanley Cup in 2019. It officially ended a 52-year title drought and 49-year gap since the organization’s previous championship appearance.
With the win, St. Louis became the final active member of the 1967 expansion to bring home a Stanley Cup.
Sporting Kansas City
League: Major League Soccer
Founded: 1995
Stadium: Children’s Mercy Park
Location: Kansas City, MO/Kansas City KS
Partners/Sponsors: TBD
Founded in 1995 by Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, Sporting Kansas City is one of Major League Soccer’s original ten clubs. Previously known as the Kansas City Wizards from 1995-2010, the franchise was rebranded in November 2010. The reason was to go along with its new home, Children’s Mercy Park, which opened in 2011.
Sporting KC has two MLS Cup titles under its belt. The first was over the Chicago Fire in 2000 as the Wizards and the second in 2013 over Real Salt Lake.
Despite having administrative offices in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, the team’s clubhouse, practice facilities, and home stadium are all located in Kansas City, Kansas. That makes Sporting KC the only major professional sports organization to play in the state of Kansas.
St. Louis City Soccer Club
League: Major League Soccer
Founded: 2019
Stadium: Centene Stadium
Location: St. Louis, MO
Partners/Sponsors: TBD
While Sporting KC is technically based in Kansas, Missouri will be getting its second MLS franchise ahead of the 2023 regular season.
Officially founded in 2019, St. Louis City FC will be fittingly based in St. Louis and play its home games at Centene Stadium. That is a brand new facility that broke ground in February 2020. It is expected to cost nearly half a billion dollars to complete.
With the debut of St. Louis City SC next season, the MLS will be up to 29 total teams. It’s just one shy of the league’s eventual goal of 30 teams.
Michael is a New Jersey-based sports writer who recently began working in the online gaming industry. He now contributes to various online publications for Better Collective. He is an alumnus of Rutgers University and avidly follows Rutgers basketball and the New York Mets.
