Missouri Riverboat Casinos Make $156.5 Million in September, As Sports Betting Nears

Riverboat casinos in Missouri generated $156.5 million in September, a 4% year-on-year increase from $150 million. 

Of the total, table games generated $22.9 million, a 5% year-on-year increase from $21.8 million, and slots revenue increased 4% from $128 million to $133.5 million. 

The state of Missouri is gearing up for the launch of sports betting on December 1, and sportsbooks have begun partnering with casinos and sports teams to secure licenses, with Underdog taking it a step further by partnering with an additional sports team strictly for marketing. 

Mixed Results Keep Missouri Casinos Afloat

The latest report from the Missouri Gaming Commission shows that seven of the 13 riverboat casinos in Missouri saw year-on-year gains. 

Horseshoe St. Louis casino saw the highest year-on-year revenue increase, with revenue rising 25%, from $10.6 million to $13.3 million. Century Caruthersville came in close second with a 21% increase, with profits rising from $3.8 million to $4.6 million, and Harrah’s KC also saw a double-digit increase of 21%. 

The highest earner in the state was Ameristar Casino, with profits of $23.3 million, which saw revenue remain stable, recording a 1% loss from the $23.6 million the year prior, and the lowest earner was St. Jo Frontier casino with a revenue of $3.5 million, a drop of 2% from $3.6 million. 

Other casinos in the state reported minor losses, including the Argosy casino, with revenue dropping 3% from $12.5 million to $12.1 million, and Ameristar KC recorded a 4% drop from $16.3 million to $15.8 million. 

Bally’s Kansas City reported the highest year-on-year loss, with revenue falling 8% from $11.1 million to $10.2 million. 

Sportsbooks Prepare for Missouri Launch with Strategic Partnerships

With 14 licenses on offer in the Show Me State, including two untethered, six with casinos, and six with professional sports teams, sportsbooks have been working to secure their status through strategic partnerships. 

So far, Century Casino has partnered with BetMGM, ESPN Bet has confirmed retail sportsbooks in three casinos, the Argosy Riverside, River City, and Hollywood Casino St Louis, and Fanatics Sportsbook announced a partnership with Boyd Gaming to launch both online and in Ameristar Casinos in the state. 

Additionally, professional sports teams in the state have partnered with sportsbooks, including FanDuel, which partnered with St Louis City, SC, after missing out on one of the two untethered licenses to DraftKings and Circa Sports. 

Underdog Expands Missouri Sports Team Portfolio 

Underdog partnered with the Kansas City Royals to gain market access, and has now taken it a step further by also partnering with the NHL’s St Louis Blues to expand its marketing in the state ahead of the lauch. 

“We’ve learned how rabid Blues fans are when it comes to leveling up their sports experience, making this partnership an obvious choice as we continue to introduce ourselves to the St Louis market. Being on the ground at Enterprise Center this season, we’re meeting fans on the cusp of a new era in the overall sports experience and doing so in a way that’s authentic to the Blues and everything they represent,” Joshua Anderson, Underdog’s director of strategy, said in a release.

In the deal, Underdog will get access to the St. Louis Blues’ marketing materials, which include video and broadcasts during both games and in-person activations, which began earlier this year with signups at the Enterprise Center for daily fantasy sports.