Steps are being taken by the state and sportsbooks to address problem gambling concerns ahead of the Missouri sports betting launch.

By Paul Costanzo in Sports Betting News

Published: June 26, 2025 at 12:25 pm EDT

A CT Council on Problem Gambling at the Sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino. A new study found a big jump in the number of people searching for gambling addiction help since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 overturned a ban on sports betting. Credit: USA TODAY- Missouri sports betting is scheduled to launch on Dec. 1, 2025

• As with any state launch, there are concerns about a rise in problem gambling
• Online sportsbooks provide several tools to help with responsible gaming

There’s plenty of excitement surrounding the launch of sports betting in Missouri. But for responsible gambling advocates, there’s also a fair bit of apprehension.

This is common with state launches, and it’s a tough balance to strike: Legal online gambling is much safer than offshore sites, but more access does bring the possibility of an increase in addiction.

So, what will Missouri sports betting apps and those who regulate them do to make it a safe environment for everyone?

What Responsible Gambling Tools Will Be Available in Missouri

Voters in Missouri approved the legalization of sports betting in November of 2024, narrowly passing Amendment 2. Included in that was language giving $5 million of sports betting tax revenue collected yearly to responsible gaming efforts.

That’s a significant investment. There are also national hotlines and organizations including GambleAware and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCGP).

Online sportsbooks have their own tools and are often required by state regulatory bodies like the Missouri Gaming Commission to provide them.

Each of the sportsbooks that has either a confirmed partnership (BetMGM Missouri with Century Casinos and bet365 Missouri with the St. Louis Cardinals) or has applied for a license (DraftKings Missouri and Underdog Sportsbook), has tools that include the following:

• Track your activity: While this feels like betting stats for some, it can serve as a reminder or a wake-up call for others.
• Setting limits: You can take pro-active action on sports betting apps by setting limits on deposits, wagers or even time spent on the app.
• Timeouts: Sometimes called “cool off” periods, you can essentially deactivate your account for a period of time, from a couple days or months. During this time, you can still access your account to withdraw funds, you just can’t place bets.
• Self-exclusion: Each state has a self-exclusion list, which you can voluntarily join. This will restrict you from gambling for a period of time as short as six months, or as long as indefinitely.

Gambling Addiction Is a Serious Problem Nationally

It would be naive, however, to think those tools and that money will stop all problem gambling. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that even attempts to claim that.

The Beacon recently spoke with Keith Spare, chair of the Kansas City Port Authority Problem Gambling Advisory Committee and the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling. While he praised the $5 million investment, he expressed concern for what access to online sports betting will bring.

A study cited by The Beacon suggests that when a state legalizes gambling, bankruptcies rise by 20-35%. It also said that financial hardship is why an estimated 1 in 5 compulsive gamblers, nationally, consider or attempt suicide.

Those are numbers that cannot be ignored, and must be addressed. The tools above can and do help, and are a major reason why you see calls to problem gambling hotlines increase after the online betting launches in a state. More people identifying as having a problem is a serious issue. But having more access and utilizing assistance to overcome it is good.

To learn more, visit our Responsible Gambling page.

Voters in Missouri approved the legalization of sports betting in November of 2024, narrowly passing Amendment 2. Included in that was language giving $5 million of sports betting tax revenue collected yearly to responsible gaming efforts.

That’s a significant investment. There are also national hotlines and organizations including GambleAware and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCGP).

Online sportsbooks have their own tools and are often required by state regulatory bodies like the Missouri Gaming Commission to provide them.

Each of the sportsbooks that has either a confirmed partnership (BetMGM Missouri with Century Casinos and bet365 Missouri with the St. Louis Cardinals) or has applied for a license (DraftKings Missouri and Underdog Sportsbook), has tools that include the following:

• Track your activity: While this feels like betting stats for some, it can serve as a reminder or a wake-up call for others.
• Setting limits: You can take pro-active action on sports betting apps by setting limits on deposits, wagers or even time spent on the app.
• Timeouts: Sometimes called “cool off” periods, you can essentially deactivate your account for a period of time, from a couple days or months. During this time, you can still access your account to withdraw funds, you just can’t place bets.
• Self-exclusion: Each state has a self-exclusion list, which you can voluntarily join. This will restrict you from gambling for a period of time as short as six months, or as long as indefinitely.

Gambling Addiction Is a Serious Problem Nationally

It would be naive, however, to think those tools and that money will stop all problem gambling. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that even attempts to claim that.

The Beacon recently spoke with Keith Spare, chair of the Kansas City Port Authority Problem Gambling Advisory Committee and the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling. While he praised the $5 million investment, he expressed concern for what access to online sports betting will bring.

A study cited by The Beacon suggests that when a state legalizes gambling, bankruptcies rise by 20-35%. It also said that financial hardship is why an estimated 1 in 5 compulsive gamblers, nationally, consider or attempt suicide.

Those are numbers that cannot be ignored, and must be addressed. The tools above can and do help, and are a major reason why you see calls to problem gambling hotlines increase after the online betting launches in a state. More people identifying as having a problem is a serious issue. But having more access and utilizing assistance to overcome it is good.

To learn more, visit our Responsible Gambling page.

Paul Costanzo Evergreen Writer/Editor; Sportsbook Expert

With nearly two decades of experience in sports media, Paul Costanzo turned his professional attention to sports betting and online gambling in January of 2022. He’s covered every angle of the industry since then, managing and creating content for PlayMichigan and The Sporting News, and now SBD.

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