FanDuel Partners With MLS Team to Gain Access to Missouri Market

Leading national mobile sports betting platform FanDuel announced it has found a partner to access Missouri’s sports betting market, which is set to launch in less than four months.

FanDuel Kicks Off Partnership

FanDuel and DraftKings are the uncontested leaders in the mobile sports betting market, and the tandem spent a combined $40 million on the Winning for Missouri Education PAC to collect over 170,000 verified signatures to get sports betting on the Missouri ballot last year.

Ultimately, the referendum passed by the thinnest of margins, but the conventional wisdom held that FanDuel and DraftKings would be awarded the two untethered licenses as a result of their efforts bringing sports betting to the Show Me State.

Untethered vs. Tethered Licenses

Untethered licenses are preferable to tethered licenses in that the company does not require a partnership with either the state’s casinos or its professional sports franchises. An untethered license allows the company to gain access to Missouri’s mobile sports betting market, which will launch on December 1, 2025, without the expense of revenue sharing with a partner.

FanDuel Secures MLS Sponsorship

Although FanDuel was unsuccessful in obtaining one of the two untethered licenses announced on August 15th, the company immediately pivoted and secured a sponsorship with the Major League Soccer team St. Louis City SC. It was clear that the company had a contingency plan in the event it was not awarded one of the two untethered licenses and executed the agreement.

“Missouri is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, and we are thrilled to partner with St. Louis City SC to introduce our industry-leading product to the Show Me State,” Mike Raffensperger, president of sports at FanDuel, said in a press release.

Circa Stuns FanDuel

It was a stunning turn of events when Circa Sports, not FanDuel, was chosen as one of the two untethered sports betting licenses in the state of Missouri. Boston-based DraftKings was selected as the other, but the absence of the industry leader in favor of a Las Vegas retail icon struck many as unusual, to say the least.

FanDuel Responds

FanDuel was gracious in defeat, as their spokesperson said after the meeting, “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.”

Circa CEO Derek Stevens used his 30-minute presentation to differentiate his company from those who have become household names in the digital sports betting market.

“Winning one of Missouri’s first two untethered mobile betting licenses is a great honor,” Stevens said. “We came in as the long shot against national giants like DraftKings and FanDuel, but our licensure approval today proves there’s room for a different kind of operator.

“Circa Sports is built for bettors, with sharp odds, high limits, and a low hold. We’ve already connected with 81,000 Missourians through our Club One loyalty program, and we’re ready to be an active part of the community, from local events to supporting youth sports.

“We didn’t win by trying to be the biggest. We won by staying true to who we are, and I want to thank the Missouri Gaming Commission for recognizing that and giving us the opportunity to bring the Circa Sports experience to the State of Missouri. We can’t wait to get started!”