The rivers that run through Missouri make the state prime for riverboat gambling. It’s a good thing that the Show-Me State’s lawmakers agree. A long-held tradition that was banned at the close of the 1800s, Missouri’s 13 riverboat casinos have made their way back but remained docked due to an incident on the river involving a crash. And right now in Missouri, state lawmakers and committees meet to discuss sports betting as a real solution to state revenue going into 2020.
Missouri Legal Gambling History
Missouri is home to great American rivers such as the Mississippi and Missouri. Naturally, you would imagine a long history of riverboat casino gambling to go hand-in-hand with them. Throughout the 1800s, Missouri was the place to be to lay down wagers on the old steamboats. Unfortunately, this form of legal gambling was banned at the turn of the century as it was in most places.
Charitable gaming such as bingo was legalized in 1980 with restrictions. Bingo could only be played for good-cause charity reasons.
Missouri offers an education state lottery, which was legalized in 1985. This means that proceeds are used to fund education in Moussiri.
The second wave of riverboat casinos came in 1992 when riverboat gambling was once again legalized in Missouri. But due to an incident that involved a collision, the boats remain docked.
Missouri Gambling Legal Status
Casino gambling is allowed on Missouri’s riverboat casinos, which remain docked nowadays. Their offerings include slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, roulette, three card poker, baccarat, mini-baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, poker, pai gow poker, let it ride, Spanish 21, and four card poker.
Track betting is legal in Missouri, though the state has no race tracks. Pari-mutuel bets are taken at the state’s county fairs.
Missouri has a state lottery and Charitable gaming is legal in Missouri.
Missouri allows for social gambling but the laws are restrictive. Nobody can profit from hosting and all parties involved must have a relationship before the game.
Sports betting and daily fantasy sports are illegal for now.
Online gambling such as poker is illegal as well. There is no push against it, so it pans out in other states, online poker could become a reality in Missouri at some point.
The legal age to gamble at casinos in Missouri is 21. The age to bet at the tracks and play the lottery is 18. Charitable gaming is 16 years of age.
Missouri Riverboat Casinos
Missouri is home to 13 riverboat casinos, all which remain docked. These casinos are authorized to offer slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and variants.
Missouri’s riverboat casinos are:
- Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
- Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
- Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
- Harrah’s North Kansas City
- Hollywood Casino
- Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville
- Isle Casino Cape Girardeau
- Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Kansas City
- Lady Luck Casino
- Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
- Mark Twain Casino
- River City Casino & Hotel
- St. Jo Frontier Casino
Missouri Legal Daily Fantasy Sports and Sports Betting
Missouri lawmakers seem to like the idea of sports betting and daily fantasy sports as being positive ways to add revenue to the state. With this sort of tone and more than enough support, lawmakers are currently holding hearings and have stated that they wish to discuss matters further going into 2020. This can only be a good sign.
Missouri Legal Gambling FAQ’s
What types of gambling are legal in the state of Missouri?
The following are legal forms of gambling in Missouri:
- Riverboat casino gambling including slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, and more.
- State lottery including
- Off-track pari-mutuel bettings
- Social Poker.
- Charitable gaming such as bingo and raffles.
