Sports fans in Missouri can now place their wagers on one of the world’s most highly respected sportsbooks. Bet365 has gone live here, but what do they offer, and why has this brand joined the Missouri betting industry?
This global betting giant started humbly in England. Led by current majority shareholder and joint chief executive Denise Coates, bet365 became one of the first online sports betting brands just as this industry was starting to take shape, launching online in 2001.
Based in a temporary office located in a parking lot, they launched the site and soon focused solely on their online business. This move brought massive success, as they became one of the biggest names in the online gambling business. This has led to them entering the newly regulated American markets as different states introduce legalized sports betting.
The Show Me State is the latest place where bet365 has started accepting sports wagers. It’s the 39th state to allow online sports betting. This comes as Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, leading to the first sportsbooks being launched at the end of last year. Eight sportsbooks are now live, with players aged 21 and over able to use them.
By looking at the details on bet365 promos for new users, we can see how this brand offers a couple of different ways of getting started. One of the deals is for bonus funds when you make a deposit and gamble, while the other is a safety net type of deal on your first bet. Missouri has joined states including Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, and Ohio, where bet365 is already operating.
Bettors need to be located in the state to use any of the regulated sportsbooks, with geolocation software used to verify the exact location of every user who connects to the platforms. In terms of the exact rules, this state allows college sports betting, so teams like the Missouri Tigers and the Missouri State Bears are available. However, player props for college players aren’t accepted.
A 10% tax rate is levied on the state’s sports betting revenue. A large percentage of this additional income is to be used to help fund the education system. While Missouri is expected to start with just a $4 billion handle compared to neighboring Illinois’ $55 billion handle. Yet, it’s been suggested that the lower rate of tax in Missouri may encourage players to carry out their gambling instead of in Illinois.
Sports betting is here to stay in Illinois, with a strong legal framework in place to protect players. As for bet365, they’re now firmly established as one of the top sportsbook operators in the US, just as they are in other parts of the world. As the few remaining holdout states pass legislation, this is likely to be one of the operators in the running for a license.
