Today (Monday) marks a big change for Missouri sports fans—sports betting is officially live.
As operators go online, the big question is what bettors need to know about gambling responsibly.
Christopher Boan, an analyst at BetMissouri.com, told Missourinet that the main thing to remember is to stick with a name you know.
“Obviously the nine that have been licensed so far BET 365 and MGM Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, the old ESPN bet, which is now the Score, Bet and UnderdogSports,” said Boan. Mainly just avoid the offshore sports books.”
Boan said Missouri could become a top sports betting state.
“And that’s because of the state’s connection to an NFL team in Kansas City,” said Boan. “Obviously, you have (an) NHL team in St. Louis. You have two Major League Baseball teams in the state. So that just means there’s a lot of betting interest and kind of makes the market primed to take off and really fly from day one.”
Boan estimated Missouri will have a first-year handle of about $4 billion. A handle is the total amount wagered by bettors.
Boan told Missourinet that it’s important to remember that sports betting should be treated as a form of recreation.
“This is supposed to be for fun and it’s kind of like in the same leisurely activity as going to a sporting event or going to a movie theater or, you know, going out for dinner, things like that,” said Boan. “And it should always be kept as an entertainment avenue for Missourians from this month onwards.”
Boan said online operators have responsible gaming measures in place, including self-exclusion lists, like what you’d find at casinos.
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