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One of the biggest concerns for Missouri sports betting proponents has arrived. For a while now, people have been pushing for legal betting to arrive, but nothing has been able to get done. Illegal activity is up (more on that below), which has been a growing concern for legislators. With the Kansas City Chiefs going on a deep postseason run too, it only makes things worse, as Missouri is set to miss out on major Chiefs Super Bowl bets.
At this time last year, the wheels were in motion for legalization to potentially arrive by now, but that wasn’t the case, with plenty of politicians doing everything in their power to block things. What’s a bummer here is that the betting potential, especially from a revenue standpoint, for Missouri could not be higher. The Chiefs have been led this postseason by the incredible play of Patrick Mahomes, which included a strong performance in the AFC Championship Game.
In case you missed it, the Chiefs traveled to Buffalo two weeks ago and took down the Bills in the Divisional Round. They were underdogs for that showdown. Then in the AFC title game, Mahomes and Co. packed their bags for Baltimore to take on Lamar Jackson and the other Ravens stars. Once again, the Chiefs didn’t care that they were underdogs, as they were able to escape with a thrilling 17-10 victory.
Now, Super Bowl betting is the talk across the United States, with major bets already being placed through the top-rated sportsbooks. However, with things still in limbo for Missouri, this means that no legal bets will be allowed for the home-state team with the Lombardi Trophy on the line against the San Francisco 49ers. We don’t have to tell you that this is brutal, as people would love nothing more than to bet on the big game. Unfortunately, from a legal standpoint, that won’t happen.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 28, 2024
Illegal Super Bowl betting will be through the roof in Missouri
Unfortunately, with the Chiefs moving on like this, illegal Super Bowl betting will be through the roof in Missouri. Officials are going to do everything they can to try and prevent things from taking off, but they’re not going to be able to catch everyone. With that said, we are anticipating a high number of wagers via illegal bookies and off-shore accounts. This is a major disappointment in any way you look at things.
The NFL betting odds are out for the game, with the Chiefs listed as underdogs for the third consecutive game in the playoffs. This shouldn’t come as a huge stunner, as the 49ers are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and they’ve looked quite sharp over the past month. The pressure will be on Brock Purdy to step his game up, but a lot of people think Mahomes will be the one to be the best QB out on the field for this one.
Defensively, the 49ers feature a strong pass-rush, and they’re looking to make life difficult for Mahomes. That’s easier said than done, as Mahomes has made a living off making would-be tacklers look silly. With all of that said, the Super Bowl prop bets are going to be quite popular in Missouri too, even if things aren’t legal. This has been an issue for a while in the state and nothing is going to change until the laws allow for legal wagers.
A good amount of people are sure to leave the state for the Super Bowl to place bets elsewhere, with the list of course including Las Vegas. However, for fans staying at home, they’ll find a way to place money on the Chiefs in this one. This was a problem for Kansas City last year too, as the team went on to win the Super Bowl over the Eagles. The hope is that by next year, legal bets will be on the table, but no one knows if that will happen or not.
The moment Patrick Mahomes said, “give me the ball.” Should scare everyone! He is HIM! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YNtTzIpw7V
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) January 30, 2024
Missouri is still hoping for legal betting in 2025
While there has been plenty of negative talk about things of late, it’s important to remember that Missouri is still hoping for legal betting in 2025. As things stand, a new sports betting bill is being drawn up to see if people will be ready to vote things in by later this year.
It’s no guarantee, but there seems to be a lot of positive movement. A major benefit of the sports betting push is that the local teams in the state have formed a coalition to try and help things take the next step. This includes the Chiefs, Cardinals, Blues and others. It’s up in the air if things will get done or not, but progress is surely being made.
The concern for people in Missouri, though, is that there are still plenty of folks who are against the project. The hope is that politicians can get on the same page and come to an agreement. Soon enough, we’ll find out if that will happen or not, but betting very well could arrive by next year.
