Missouri sports betting hits lowest month, but sees bump in taxable revenue ahead of expected college football surge
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
While Missouri sportsbooks recorded their lowest monthly wagering total in July, that figure is expected to surge once the college football season gets into full swing.
Recent figures from the Missouri Gaming Commission show sportsbooks accepted $246.8 million in wagers in July, with baseball bets accounting for $135.2 million of that total.
That marked the lowest monthly wagering total since sports betting was legalized in Missouri, with wagering falling from $258.3 million in June, which included the World Cup and NBA Finals. May previously held the record for the lowest monthly total at $252.5 million.
Despite the decline in overall wagering, taxable revenue increased slightly. Missouri generated more than $21 million in taxable revenue in July, compared with $20 million in June and $13.6 million in May.
The dip in wagering was expected during this lull in the sports calendar and Ryan Butler, a senior news analyst at Covers.com expects Missouri to see some of its highest numbers when football season kicks off.
“Football is going to be huge. September will be the biggest month ever for Missouri sports betting, besides maybe December, which is a little bit of an abnormality because of all the launches. September is going to be absolutely huge,” Butler said. “October is going to be even bigger. November, December will also be big. Again, December 2025 will always be an outlier. But in those four months coming up September, October, November, December will be the four biggest months for betting in Missouri history.”
But concerns about legalized sports betting and its impact on student-athletes have only grown since the NCAA allowed student-athletes to bet on professional sports, marking a departure from the NCAA’s long-standing prohibition on sports wagering.
The NCAA Committee on Infractions has already released multiple cases involving student-athletes betting on their own games and, in some instances, manipulating outcomes. In January NCAA’s enforcement staff opened sports betting integrity investigations into roughly 40 student-athletes from 20 schools.
Missouri and the NCAA have some safeguards put in place.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has made education about sports wagering a top priority. The NCAA Sports Science Institute has developed resources for athletic staff, administrators and student-athletes, including webinars and materials that athletic departments can implement locally. The NCAA has also funded programs such as EPIC, which brings in former student-athletes who experienced issues such as point shaving to share their stories and educate current athletes about the risks of sports wagering.
The Southeastern Conference also requires schools to use Prohibet, a system that monitors unethical or illegal gambling activity.
But harassment from sports bettors is another growing concern for athletes, one that has been fueled in part by the rise of prop betting.
The Show-Me State is one of 13 states with restrictions on individual prop bets. Under Missouri law, betting on player or team props for Missouri collegiate teams is not allowed. Of Missouri’s neighboring states, only Arkansas, Kansas and Kentucky allow prop betting on college sports with no restrictions on team or player props.
In June, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi issued a reminder to students, faculty, and staff about expectations surrounding sports wagering and the protection of student-athletes.
Choi and the athletic department outlined prohibited behavior for students and employees, including attempting to influence or compromise the outcome of athletic events, sharing confidential information about MU athletes and harassing players.
Violations may breach federal or state law as well as university policies.
According to the University of Missouri, students found to harass athletes or engage in betting-related misconduct are subject to discipline under the university’s Standard of Conduct, which can include warnings, probation, suspension or expulsion.
Faculty and staff who violate the Standards of Faculty Conduct or MU’s Code of Conduct may face reprimands, suspension or termination. Student-athletes are encouraged to report any harassment so the university can monitor and address potential threats.
