Online Gambling in Missouri: Riverboat Casinos, Legal Status, and Offshore Considerations
Missouri operates a regulated gambling market centered on riverboat casinos and charitable gaming, overseen by the Missouri Gaming Commission. Thirteen licensed riverboat casinos offer slots, table games, and poker rooms. No intrastate online casinos, poker, or sports betting are authorized. Missouri Revised Statutes §572.010 et seq. prohibit unauthorized gambling, with penalties applying to operators and promoters. No specific provisions target individual players using offshore sites, and no prosecutions of Missouri residents for offshore casino or poker participation have occurred as of 2026. The legal gray area persists, with authorities focusing enforcement on unlicensed domestic operations rather than personal online play. Players should note the absence of regulatory protections on offshore platforms.
Legal Framework for Gambling
Missouri law broadly prohibits gambling unless explicitly authorized, classifying most unauthorized wagering as a misdemeanor or felony depending on severity. No statutes directly address online gambling, leaving ambiguity regarding offshore participation. Enforcement prioritizes operators and illegal promotion over individual players. The Missouri Gaming Commission licenses and regulates all legal gaming venues, ensuring compliance with age restrictions (21+) and responsible gaming standards. No legislative progress toward regulated iGaming has occurred, with focus remaining on existing riverboat and charitable frameworks.
Riverboat Casinos in Missouri
Missouri features thirteen licensed riverboat casinos, offering slots, table games, and poker rooms. Key venues include:
- Ameristar Casino Resort Spa (St. Charles): 2,000+ slots, 50+ table games, poker room
- Ameristar Casino Hotel (Kansas City): 2,000+ slots, table games, hotel amenities
- Hollywood Casino St. Louis (Maryland Heights): 2,000+ slots, table games, entertainment
- Harrah’s Casino (North Kansas City): 1,000+ slots, table games, poker
- River City Casino & Hotel (St. Louis): 1,500+ slots, table games, hotel and dining
- Isle Casino Cape Girardeau (Cape Girardeau): slots, table games, poker room
- Lady Luck Casino (Caruthersville): slots, table games, riverfront location
These casinos provide extensive gaming floors with slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker. No state-sanctioned online casino access exists for residents.
Poker in Missouri
Live poker rooms operate at six riverboat casinos, including Ameristar St. Charles, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. Games focus on No-Limit Hold’em cash and tournaments. No regulated real-money online poker platforms are available. Offshore poker sites accept Missouri players unregulated, carrying legal ambiguity. Social poker apps provide free-play alternatives.
Sports Betting Status
Sports betting remains illegal statewide, with no regulated retail or mobile options. Pari-mutuel horse racing has limited availability, with no active tracks offering live racing. Offshore sportsbooks serve Missouri residents without documented player enforcement actions. Legislative attempts to legalize sports betting have repeatedly failed, with no active bills advancing as of 2026.
Daily Fantasy Sports Availability
Daily Fantasy Sports operates legally under 2016 regulations, classified outside traditional gambling definitions. Major platforms DraftKings and FanDuel accept Missouri residents without restrictions or dedicated licensing requirements.
Missouri Lottery and Other Games
The Missouri Lottery offers draw games (Powerball, Mega Millions), scratch-offs, instant tickets, and pull-tabs. Tickets sell exclusively through licensed retailers—no online sales are authorized. The official website provides results, promotions, and second-chance entries. Charitable bingo operates through nonprofits, but no commercial or online bingo receives state approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gambling options are available in Missouri?
Missouri provides thirteen riverboat casinos with slots, table games, and poker; regulated DFS; the state lottery; and charitable bingo. No regulated online casinos, poker, or sports betting exist.
What laws govern online gambling in Missouri?
§572 statutes prohibit unauthorized gambling, applying broadly without explicit online provisions. Enforcement targets operators, not individual offshore players.
Is real-money online gambling legal for players in Missouri?
Real-money online gambling violates state law technically, but offshore play occurs without player prosecutions reported. Participation carries unregulated risks and no state protections.
Which offshore sites accept Missouri residents?
Many offshore casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks welcome Missouri players, though participation involves risks regarding security, fairness, and dispute resolution.