Missouri Gambling Laws – Legal and Illegal Gambling
Our article will introduce to you the Missouri gambling laws and regulatory organs. We will also tell you about the riverboat casinos and the land-based casinos in MO. Learn which are the popular games at Missouri, that make the USA part of the biggest gambling markets in the world.
Our article begins with the gambling laws Missouri players should know. In the lines below, you will learn how important it is to follow the regulations and play at a legal casino. We will give you details which games are available to play online and how to choose the right casino.
Gambling Laws Missouri – Federal and State Laws
The gambling in the beautiful state of Missouri follows the strict federal and state laws. MO gambling laws are created and regulated by the MGC (Missouri Gaming Commission). The state laws cover land-based and riverboat casinos. In the following paragraphs we will tell you more details about the US gambling laws in Missouri.
MO Gambling Laws and Control Organs
The history of Missouri gambling goes way back in time even before the European colonization. The games played by the local tribes are not part of our modern gambling. They were replaced by the first roulette, craps, and card games. With time, the need for strict regulations became obvious. The first issues were solved by the local authorities or following the practices of other states. With the establishment of the Federal authorities, the Supreme Court of the United States became the authority responsible for decisions that apply over all states.
Besides the federal gambling laws, Missouri has all real money gambling matters regulated by Section 572 of the Missouri code. The main regulatory organs are the Missouri Gaming Commission, founded in 1993, and the gambling commissioner of Mississippi Gaming Commission. In 2018 MO proposed several bills that would allow legal sports betting.
Missouri Gambling Age, Taxes, and Punishments
Since each state is a semi-independent legislation authority, each state can set different restrictions or requirements. This also applies for the US legal gambling age, taxes size, legality of the games, and more. In most states, casino gambling is not allowed to a citizen under the age of 21. Some states allow 18 or even 16-year-old people to participate in lotteries, scratch cards, bingo games, and more.
The lowest legal gambling age in Missouri is 16 and the players can participate only in charity games like bingo. You have to be 18 years old to take part in lottery and pari-mutuel betting. Fantasy sports, poker, casino games, sports betting, horse racing, and the rest of the gambling types require the players to be at least 21. The same age applies for alcohol consumption. Currently, the state has not legalized cannabis use.
| Poker: | 21+ |
| Casino Games: | 21+ |
| Sports Betting: | 21+ |
| Daily Fantasy: | 18-21+ |
| Lotto: | 18+ |
| Bingo as Gambling: | 18+ |
| Bingo Charity Games: | 16+ |
The Missouri Gaming Commission and Missouri state authorities define which gambling games are considered legal Their second mission is to ease the work of the USA’s Responsible Gambling Trust in help fighting the gambling addiction. Another main task is to determine the Missouri gambling winnings tax. The MO tax authority – the Missouri Department of Revenue – set the size of the gambling winning tax at 4%. This tax is mandatory for all gambling winnings even if they are part of charity gambling.
In MO bookmaking, possession of gambling records or devices is illegal. Not paying your taxes after winning is a crime. Players are held responsible for actions of fraud, theft, cheating at a gambling location, and more. The casinos also can be prosecuted for acts like not paying off winnings, not paying taxes, and more violations of the gambling regulations. The organs that deal with the issues are the Missouri Gaming Commission, local courts, police, and on some occasions, the federal authorities. The punishments vary from fines or probation to imprisonment.
Popular MO Gambling Locations – Land, Water, and Online
The Missouri gambling laws regulate the activity of all gambling establishments on land and water. One of the most popular tourist destinations and gambling cities is St. Louis, Missouri. Here, the players can hit the tables and even meet famous local gamblers like Greg Raymer. If you can’t travel all the way to the historical town of St. Louis, then we are offering you the top online casino sites for US players. There, you can get the highest-level gambling experience while sitting on your couch.
Popular Missouri Land-Based Casinos
The first gambling laws in the history of humankind regulated the land-based casinos. New laws were created as the games became more popular and more accessible to the public. Currently, there are 13 Missouri casinos open to USA residents and tourists from around the world. All of them are owned and operated by Native American tribes. The casinos follow all MO gambling laws and reservation regulations.
The most popular gambling venues may be the riverboat casinos, but the land-based resorts offer entertainments that could not fit in the hull of a ship. One of the biggest and most popular destinations is the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. Other great locations for your next vacation are the Hollywood Casino (St. Louis), the Lumiere Place (St. Louis), the Mark Twain Casino (La Grange), and ten more. Our article will tell more about the best Native American casinos in the United States of America.
MO Riverboat Casinos and Laws
Missouri is one of the states where you can experience gambling on a riverboat. The riverboat casinos, their activity, and marketing to bettors were legalized in 1992. The gambling is allowed on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and also on artificial moats within 1000 feet of an approved river.
Ever since the last regulations passed, the Missouri gambling boats became a preferred tourist destination. The passengers can book a cruise from St. Louis, Missouri, or another big port, and spend a few days on the comfortable hotels and restaurants with tasty cuisine. During the last years, the companies directed their attention to providing more comfort for the tourists and games for the players.
Anyone is free to take part in the games and get a prize. The riverboat casinos are also known as licensed excursion gambling boats or floating facilities. They offer a wide range of games, including poker, craps, blackjack, and more. Having a roulette table at the casino is not common, because even the slightest movement of the boat can change the trajectory of the ball and change the result.
Every Mississippi riverboat casino follows strictly all regulations and gambling laws Missouri has. Currently, almost all six legit casinos offer bi-weekly competitive poker events. Five of them can hold at least ten games at any given time. The most popular game at Mississippi river gambling cruises is No-Limit Hold ’em.
There is no wonder if the image of a riverboat with great wheels rolling appears into your mind. The riverboat casinos were often used in the old movies to show a high-class vacation or a high stakes gambling game. One of the most famous poker scenes on a boat is from the movie Maverick (1994).
Are Online Casinos Legal in MO?
The main online gambling laws in the USA are regulated in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). According to this act, the players have banned payments made to unauthorized sites, but the online casinos are not regulated in any way. The only states where you can gamble online are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
The Missouri online gambling laws can not contradict the federal legislation. The online gambling Missouri residents participate in is not regulated. Walking a path through the online gambling shadows is brighter when knowing that the sites are powered and operated by safe operators like OpenBet SG Digital, Microgaming, NetSer, Playtech, Kootac, GAN Software, and iPoker Network. Offering the best online payment method PayPal or another legit payment method is an effective way to tell if the online gambling site is safe to play.
The Missouri Gaming Commission is only one of the authorities that takes care of the US gamblers. While playing at an online casino, you should look for the safety labels of the ESSA (Sports Betting Integrity), CDS (Central Disputes System), GLI (Gaming Labs International), CFG (Certified Fair Gambling), and others. This way, you can be sure that the site is secure and monitored.
Favourite Gambling Games in MO
One of the greatest outcome by following the Missouri gambling laws is the creation of MO’s best US social casinos. In this section of our article, we will share a few words about the most popular casino and online gambling games. Unfortunately, most of them are still not available for online play according to the MO gambling laws. Here are the most popular gambling games in Missouri, USA:
Slots
The slot machines are the most popular and accessible gambling game all over the world. The Missouri online gambling laws allow slots in land-based casinos, but there are still no online slot casino sites in MO. All gambling rooms offer a wide variety of slot machines. The bets are low and if you are on a lucky streak, you can get a constant flow of prizes and high returns. For example, Ameristar Kansas City had a 107.9% payout at the $100 slots, while the $25 machines at Lumiére Place gave 100.9% average returns.
The largest winning so far on a slot machine dropped in 2005. The 40 years old Brenda Preston spun the reels at the Mark Twain Casino and won the $2.1 million progressive jackpot. The lucky winner received a $100,000 check and picked the annual payoff option of the prize for the next 19 years. Spinning and winning are amazing but don’t lose yourself in the game. Seek help right away if you notice the first signs of a gambling addiction.
Roulette and Craps
Roulette and dice games like craps need stable grounds for fair gameplay. That is why it is doubtful that you will see them on a riverboat casino in Missouri. Since there are no MO regulated online casinos, you will have to play American Roulette and more casino games at other gambling websites. Before you do, check if you still need to pay Missouri gambling winnings tax even when you win outside of the state.
Card Games
The card games, especially poker, are the most popular gambling games in Missouri. They owe their popularity to the fact that for years the casinos are floating on the rivers and the cards are easy to hold despite the shaking of the ship. The MGC (Missouri Gaming Commission) regulates poker, blackjack, baccarat, and their available variations.
Anyone who is above the legal gambling age in Missouri (21 years of age for casino games) can participate in the games and tournaments organized by the floating and land-based casinos. Since there is no regulation for the online casino, there are no online poker or card games available.
Poker is one of the preferred choices of gamblers in Missouri. The main reasons are the simple rules, good prizes, and availability at all casinos. The frequent tournaments and events held every couple of weeks draw many players. The Harrah’s St. Louis Riverboat Resort and Casino is part of the WSOP circuit. That led, so far, to 4 events being held under the gambling laws Missouri has.
The latest winner is Roy Riley, who became NBC “Ironman” after Reality Show Stardom at St. Louis, MO. On April 15th, 2012, he won 872,000 in chips, that equal to $57,139 and the tournament’s golden ring. Other #1 winners are Shain Matthews who won $29,306 in the $355 NLHE tournament, Jerry Ard who got $32,147 in the $565 NLHE, and Kevin Balsman who won $11,844 in a $355 PLO tournament.
Lottery, Bingo, and Scratch Cards
When it comes to lottery games, currently they are available in 44 states of the USA and are run by 47 jurisdictions. In 2011, the US Department of Justice released a legal opinion on the Federal Wire Act, allowing the states to launch their online lottery sales. Unlike the rest of the states, the Missouri lottery was legalized in 1985, just a year after it was created. Attempts for improvement are constantly made, but at this point, there is still no chance to play online lotto or buy a lottery ticket online.
Anyone over 18 years of age can participate in a lottery or purchase a scratch card. Sticking to the main legal gambling age in Missouri and paying your winners taxes are the main requirements towards the players. When the prize drops, the state lottery gives 25% to the Missouri public education programs. The next 65% is the winner’s prize, while the remaining are for administrative costs and commissions for retailers. If you win from the Missouri lotto, don’t forget to cash your prize within 180 days, or it will revert to the state lottery fund.
Missouri players can participate at USA’s Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life games. The MO lottery is authorized to operate keno, scratchers, and pull-tabs games. The highest Missouri lottery win fell on March 12, 2019, when Hira Singh won $50 million. This is the second Mega Millions jackpot won in Missouri since the establishment of the lottery.
Scratch cards and bingo are also legal under the MO gambling laws. According to the 1980 regulation, even 16 years olds can play bingo if it is offered by a registered charity. Another way for fast and surprising wins is the scratcher tickets. A few years ago, Philip Uildriks bought a Missouri Lottery “5X Bingo” ticket at the general store. He removed the scratch-out layer and uncovered the top prize of $55,558. Lucky man!
Sports Gambling and Racing Bets
Legalizing sports gambling is the latest battle in the USA. The most liberal gambling states, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware turned to the Supreme Court with a request to solve the issue. In May 2018, the Supreme Court stated that all states are given the option to choose themselves whether or not to legalize sports betting.
The Missouri gambling laws still have not legalized sports betting and online sports betting. The local authorities are aware that players place bets via offshore online sites, but this is considered illegal gambling. Many supporters of the biggest local sports team, the Cardinals, wish they could legally support their teams and place bets on their games.
The dog races are legal, and so is the horse racing betting at the racetracks. The horse races are legal since 1984 and monitored by the Missouri Horse Racing Commission. One of the most popular locations for horseracing gambling are in St. Louis, MO. Many of the racehorses run the tracks on their path to glory and win the Kentucky Derbi, the Breeders Club, and other US or international races.
MO eSports and Fantasy Sports
Last on our list is the only legal online gambling – fantasy sports. In 2016, the Missouri online gambling laws permitted daily fantasy sports. All players can relax because there is also no federal law that prohibits USA citizens from playing eSports. That is possible because, just like horse racing, fantasy sports are classified as games of skills, and therefore are not considered illegal.
Missouri Gambling Laws FAQ
Our article on the Missouri gambling laws introduced you to the state’s casinos, the legal games, and the main regulatory laws. Now, we will answer the most frequently asked questions regarding the MO gambling laws.
