Circa Sports awarded untethered Missouri sportsbook license in major upset over market leader - cleveland.com
- Updated: Aug. 15, 2025, 1:58 p.m.
- |Published: Aug. 15, 2025, 12:37 p.m.
Circa and DraftKings are now guaranteed to be among the first sportsbooks to go live when Missouri sports betting officially launches on Dec. 1. The two recipients, plus FanDuel, made their pitches to the Missouri GC on Wednesday at a public hearing.
Missouri will be just the sixth state — Nevada, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois — in which Circa will operate. It commands roughly 1 percent of the mobile sports-betting handle nationally.
But Circa’s team apparently made a compelling-enough pitch to appeal to Missouri’s legislators, based on its fledgling midwestern stronghold.
“The fact that there are two untethered licenses in Missouri, and I need to come up with a way to differentiate ourselves from 75 percent of the market share right here in the room with us, is why I’m here,” Circa CEO Derek Stevens said Wednesday.
Technically, Stevens’ classification was a bit low, since DraftKings and FanDuel share about 77 percent of the market in the continent. FanDuel collects about 43 percent of the North American sports-betting handle, and DraftKings rakes in the second-most, about 34 percent.
Plus, FanDuel and DraftKings teamed up with more than $43 million to help get Amendment 2, which legalized both retail and mobile sports betting in Missouri.
Still, Circa also appealed to Missouri based on its ability to lure in sharps due to its ability to accept large wagers.
“We take larger bets, we do not limit professional players, do not limit customers and work with the customers to learn from the,” Stevens said.
An application to be considered for an untethered sportsbook license cost $500,000, which is double that of the application for a sportsbook license that is partnered with a team or casino.
Circa lauded the commission’s decision to award it one of the highly sought-after licenses.
“We are incredibly excited about the state of Missouri and everything it has to offer from a sports betting perspective which is why winning the untethered license and being able to gain market access at favorable rates that align with our model make it such a huge victory,” Jeffrey Benson, director of Circa’s operation, told Sports Betting Dime.
“We can now bring ‘sports betting the way it should be’ to all in the great state and operate our low hold and high volume model in a manner which we believe is very helpful to bettors.”
What happens next?
Though FanDuel is locked out of Missouri at the moment, the sportsbook is still undoubtedly going to operate in the Show Me State. It probably will even be available to Missouri bettors on Dec. 1.
There are 14 mobile sportsbook licenses, and 19 retail sportsbook licenses, available in the state. BetMGM, bet365, Fanatics and Underdog have either already announced partnerships (BetMGM and bet365) or applied for a license (Fanatics and Underdog), but there will be at least a half-dozen spots still available for FanDuel take.
The key date to know as it relates to FanDuel’s Missouri access is Sept. 12: That is the deadline for operators to apply for a license.
Caesars and ESPN BET have land-based casino interests in the state, making them almost guaranteed to have a presence in Missouri this winter.
Though a handful of teams and casinos have already positioned themselves with partnerships, the St. Louis Blues and all the Kansas City-based pro teams are in play for FanDuel.
But FanDuel may have had a contingency available all along. Though its parent company Flutter recently purchased back its full ownership stake from from Boyd Gaming for $1.8 billion last month, the companies are still engaged in a partnership, which could lead to a FanDuel-Boyd reunion.
Boyd Gaming operates a pair of brick-and-mortar casinos in Missouri, the Ameristar Casino and Hotel in Kansas City and the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles, Missouri.
More Sports Betting
- Fanatics Sportsbook applies for Missouri sports betting license ahead of Dec. 1 launch
- Caesars Sportsbook Missouri promo code and latest news ahead of Dec. 1 launch
- DraftKings, FanDuel and Circa make case for untethered Missouri sports betting license
- Caesars Sportsbook review: A comprehensive look at the odds, markets and Caesars Rewards
- DraftKings promo: Get a $200 NFL Sunday Ticket discount & $200 bonus for Browns vs. Panthers
FAQ
What does 5 dimes mean in betting?
Dime: $1,000. (A “five-dime” bet is a $5,000 bet.) Dime line: A betting line with a 10-cent straddle, often used in baseball. (With a dime line, if the favorite is minus 120, the underdog is plus 110.) Dog: See “underdog.”
What does public mean in sports betting?
In its most commonly used form in NFL betting, “public” generally describes either a single bet or a style of betting that is most commonly used by non-professional bettors.15 thg 5, 2025
What is a dime time in sport betting?
The term Dime is a shorthand used by gamblers, dealers, and bookmakers to describe a bet of one thousand dollars. This term is most frequently used in: Sports betting: A ‘dime bet’ refers to a $1,000 wager.
What is the dime line in sports betting?
For those who are not caught up with the betting lingo, a dime line is a betting line with a 10-cent straddle, particularly used in baseball. For example, with a dime line, if the favorite is minus -120, the underdog is plus +110. Here is an example of a baseball dime line you might see in a sportsbook.
What is TP in WPT poker?
What is TP in WPT poker? Tournament Points (TPs) are used to buy into VIP tournaments on ClubWPT. All players start with a fixed amount of TPs (500) upon opening a VIP account. They cannot be reloaded, but will be automatically “topped up” once per day.
What Is Public Betting? A Simple Guide for Everyday Sports Fans
Public betting is basically what “the crowd” is doing with their bets, usually made up of casual fans backing popular teams, star players, or obvious favorites rather than digging into deep stats or strategy. It’s often shown as a percentage, like “75% of bets are on Team A,” which tells you where the general public is putting its money in a game or event. For example, in a big football matchup, most public bettors might jump on a famous team just because they’re well-known, even if the odds are not very good.
When and why was the double zero added to the American roulette wheel?
When and why was the double zero added to the American roulette wheel? The double zero was added to the American roulette wheel in the mid-19th century. The exact year is not clear, but it is believed to have been added around the 1860s. The reason for its addition was to increase the house edge, making the game more profitable for the casino. At the time, gambling was not regulated in the United States, and casinos were free to set their own rules and payouts.
What are some famous roulette scandals and controversies throughout history?
What are some famous roulette scandals and controversies throughout history? 1. The Eudaemons – In the 1970s, a group of physics students at the University of California Santa Cruz used a computer to predict the outcomes of roulette games in Nevada casinos. They called themselves “The Eudaemons” and made significant profits before their operation was shut down. 2. The Ritz-Carlton Scandal – In 2004, a team of Eastern European gamblers used a laser scanner and a computer to predict where the ball would land on the roulette wheel at the Ritz-Carlton casino in London.
How has technology influenced the game of roulette?
How has technology influenced the game of roulette, such as with electronic and automated versions of the game? One of the most significant technological advancements in the game of roulette has been the introduction of electronic roulette tables. These tables feature a digital display that simulates the spinning of the roulette wheel, and players can place their bets on a touchscreen interface. This allows for faster gameplay, as the wheel can be spun more frequently than with a traditional roulette table.
Maximize every wager with Sports Betting Dime. See expert online sports betting picks, news, odds, and sportsbook promos from the SBD team
This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Circa Sports awarded untethered Missouri sportsbook license in major upset over market leader - cleveland.com
