Underdog Backs Away From Missouri Sports Betting Launch

Underdog confirmed to Legal Sports Report that it will not launch Missouri sports betting on Monday, as it had previously planned to.

The company did not comment further on the decision, which was first reported by the St. Louis Fox affiliate KTVI-TV. That report included a comment from Missouri Gaming Commission Executive Director Mike Leara that Underdog was switching its focus to prediction markets.

“They have decided to go to that market,” Leara said. “It’s not regulated at any level compared to what traditional sports betting is regulated, and obviously, there’s no tax on it.”

Prediction Markets Already Live In Missouri

Underdog is already live with sports predictions in Missouri, according to its availability map. That makes it 24 states live with predictions for Underdog and just one, North Carolina, live with sports betting.

Underdog Gets Jump On Sports Betting

While Missouri sportsbooks are waiting until midnight on Monday to launch in the legal market, Underdog can take advantage of the multiple holiday NFL games available this week.

That includes the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the hometown Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys, which is expected to break the NFL record for most watched regular-season game.

Underdog — which partnered with the Kansas City Royals for Missouri market access — has advertised in the state leading up to Monday’s launch so it should benefit from increased brand awareness.

Are DraftKings And FanDuel Impacted?

Representatives for neither DraftKings nor FanDuel returned for requests for comments on the news, but either’s Missouri sports betting plans are not expected to have changed.

Underdog decided to make this pivot and was not pressured by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

“Underdog withdrew their application for a sports wagering license, but they do maintain their fantasy sports contest operator license in good standing,” an MGC spokesperson told LSR.

Both DraftKings and FanDuel applied for the state’s two untethered sports betting licenses, which require a larger upfront financial commitment if selected. DraftKings and Circa won those licenses with FanDuel announcing it partnered with MLS club St. Louis City SC shortly after that decision.