Gambling Laws In Missouri
With the many sweeping laws which affect gambling in the entire country such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, there is much room left for each individual state to pass its own legislation to expand upon national policies. Under Missouri gambling laws and these federal acts it is clear that the business of facilitating bets for profit is a major crime, however these laws do nothing to impede the average citizen from the act of placing a bet. Some states have simply gone along with this model with their own laws and Missouri is one such state that follows the federal government with similar policies in place to govern gambling within its borders.
Before we get into the thick of whether gambling is legal or not in Missouri, we must familiarize ourselves with the state's definitions of the act. Read the Missouri Revised Statutes and pay particular attention to 572.010(4) which is where the State defines what it means to gamble. Take a few minutes to get familiar with the words and you'll see that this act is considered unlawful and could result in a class C misdemeanor.
What is very important to understand for those in Missouri however is that there is another definition within the law books which most casual bettors fall under. The word "Player" is an important term to know if one desires to gamble in Missouri. Found under 572.010(8) of the Missouri Revised Statues, this definition follows suit with federal law that a social or casual gambler who is not engaged in the business of gambling to reap a profit is not a target for criminal activity. A "Professional Gambler" on the other hand, could risk facing felony charges.
So, gambling in Missouri is unlawful, but being a "player" partaking in gambling is not a crime. Now that we have established this little talked about fact, we know that home games of poker or wagering among friends are okay so long as players use discretion, do not take a profit, do not promote gambling, do not engage in bookmaking or keeping records and do not use a gambling device. What many view as an anti-gambling state is in fact, a fairly relaxed state if compared to others.
Missouri also has legal and regulated gambling throughout the state available to both residents and visitors. The Missouri Gaming Association has 13 licensed casinos which house more than 19,000 slots and gaming machines and a total of 459 table games. Live poker is available throughout the state as well, however sports betting remains illegal and unavailable due to federal legislation such as PASPA.
Land-Based Gambling In Missouri
With 14 land based casinos, locals in the show me state will find most forms of gambling are easily available to them. Traditional casino games like slots and blackjack, live poker and a wide variety of electronic games are prevalent in all of the state licensed casinos and are legally available to all those of the proper age. One of these top gambling destinations is slightly different as it is a tribally run casino operating under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and exempt from any Missouri laws and regulations. The Indigo Sky Casino located in Seneca is a full Las-Vegas styled casino featuring live poker, slots, table games and even off-track horse betting. Also, as stated above, residents of Missouri may partake in home poker games if they so desire so long as there is no profit being made other than personal winnings.
Online Gambling In Missouri
There is no legal online gambling based within the state of Missouri or the rest of the country for that matter. The federal legislation mentioned at the top of this page absolutely outlaws any facilitation of bets through the internet on U.S. soil. The good news is that there is no state or federal law preventing those who wish to play at Missouri gambling sites from utilizing the services of an online gambling site which is located outside of both Missouri and U.S. federal jurisdiction.
Any Missouri resident is absolutely free to explore online wagering options and partake in gambling offered from any entity that is in legal operation. This may include sites which are based in the United Kingdom, Europe, Central and South America and even neighboring Canada to name a few foreign destinations housing popular sites. Many may feel unnerved to use such sites but many more have already taken the plunge to learn that these sites are safe, secure, well designed and easily available with reliable payouts for American users everywhere, including in Missouri. Most locals in the show me state if using a service as nearby as Canada can expect to receive a check by courier with their winnings in under 10 business days. What's more with these federally exempt sites is that users can actually bet on sports as most of them will offer sports betting on every major American Sport including the St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Popular Gambling Options In Missouri:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
One of the most respected online gambling sites in the industry has been in business for decades while specifically servicing American users. Bovada began as a local company before moving to Canada after changing federal legislation forced them to relocate and they still operate to this day with the most advanced features for wagering on the web. This online gambling site hosts all major forms of gambling whether it is classic casino games such as roulette, table game favorites like blackjack, or even online poker tables, it's at Bovada.
Bovada is perhaps best known for their online sportsbook which has garnered the endorsements from many major American companies such as USA Today and CBS Sports. Even sports news behemoth ESPN cites their daily lines and odd in their reports even over such sportsbooks that exist in Las Vegas. Bovada is the clear choice for anyone living in Missouri and we have no problem doling out the grade of A+ as we use them for our own sports betting action.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age for pari-mutuel betting and lottery in Missouri is 18 years or older, however, visiting a land-based casino requires visitors to be 21 years of age or older. Online gambling sites such as the ones that we recommend are available to all Missouri residents aged 18 or older.
Best For All Gaming Types
