Digital Wager Wire highlights the most significant events affecting the domestic and international sports betting and gaming industries each week throughout the year.
Circa Awarded Untethered License in Missouri
In what can only be described as a shocking turn of events, Circa Sports was awarded one of the state’s two untethered sports betting licenses by the Missouri Gaming Commission. The conventional wisdom assumed that FanDuel and DraftKings, the mobile sports betting leaders, would be the recipients of the licenses.
However, each company was allowed 30 minutes to plead its case, and Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens was able to convince the committee that an old-school sportsbook with a far smaller footprint was more worthy of an untethered license than FanDuel.
Stevens began his presentation after the industry leaders, saying, “I realize we are small potatoes compared to what was just presented.”
FanDuel and DraftKings have spent a combined $40 million to bring mobile sports betting to the Missouri masses after a political action committee they backed, Winning for Missouri Education, was able to get the required 180,000 verified signatures to get the question of mobile sports betting on last November’s ballot. It passed by a narrow margin, but the industry is now slated to launch on December 1, 2025.
Missouri will have two untethered mobile sports betting licenses, which means those companies, Circa Sports and DraftKings, will not have to share their profits with a designated casino or one of the state’s professional sports teams.
There will also be tethered licenses that will require a partnership with one of 13 designated casinos or six sports franchises, including the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), St. Louis Blues (NHL), Kansas City Royals (MLB), St. Louis City SC (MLS), and Sporting Kansas City (MLS). FanDuel immediately partnered with St. Louis City KC after the results of the bid were announced.
Despite losing the untethered bid, a FanDuel spokesperson thanked the committee for their consideration, stating, “We appreciated the opportunity to present to the Missouri Gaming Commission and respect their decision. We look forward to bringing our leading sportsbook product to Missouri residents.”
MGM’s Empire City Racino Faces Critical Casino Vote
A hearing was held on August 11th to discuss the viability of MGM’s Yonkers Casino Proposal, one of eight bidders seeking three downstate New York casino licenses, and there was pushback from residents regarding morphing the racino into a full-blown casino that will also serve as a tourist destination.
Increased traffic, congestion, and noise were cited by many critics as to why a casino license would not be conducive to community support. However, labor unions and several local politicians, including Yonkers mayor Mike Spano, support the license and stated it would be an economic boon to the area.
The introduction of live casino table games such as blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette would be added to the menu of gaming options at MGM’s Empire City Casino, and the VLTs would be replaced with legitimate slot machines. A retail sportsbook is also expected if the facility is awarded a license.
Renovations are expected to run as high as $2.3 billion, which would include a luxury hotel added to the property. Another meeting is scheduled on September 16th, when the community advisory committee (CAC) will vote on the project.
