University of Missouri will Attempt to Ban Sports Betting on Campus

With the passage of Amendment 2, sports betting is coming to Missouri later this year. The exact timeline remains unclear. But once sports betting in Missouri goes live, one thing is for certain: The University of Missouri wants no part of it.

Midway through March, the college will hold a Faculty Council meeting. At this time, there will be discussions about how to curtail, if not outright ban, wagering on campus among everyone—faculty, students, athletes, etc.

The NCAA is expected to support whatever proposal the University of Missouri comes up with and ultimately co-signs. Charlie Baker, president of the NCAA, has repeatedly spoken about his disdain for sports betting and its potential impact on the student-athletes as well as the integrity of the competition.

To that end, it feels like an on-campus gambling ban is pretty straightforward. Then again, is it actually that clear cut?

Purdue University’s Sports Betting Stance Expected to Serve as Inspiration in Missouri

As of now, the University of Missouri has not fully hashed out the details of its proposed gambling ban. But as Aiden Kauffman of the Columbia Missourian writes, though, they are expected to use Purdue University and their policies as a source of inspiration:

“As discussions surrounding sports gambling and addiction become more prevalent at colleges across the country, the University of Missouri plans to take a proactive approach to prohibit sports betting on its campus. At the next Faculty Council meeting on March 13, Pamela Bruzina, representative for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Faculty Athletics, will propose examples of policies that could mirror Purdue University's ban on sports betting for all faculty, staff and students. The policy could also eliminate prop bets on collegiate student-athletes and assess the prevalence and impact of sports wagering on the general student body.

“‘The policy is still a work in progress,’ Bruzina said. ‘However, I can tell you that we are considering multiple potential negative impacts of sports wagering on student-athletes, including problem gambling.’”

On-campus bans are not uncommon. The elimination of prop betting is a different story. These often player-specific wagers are among the most popular transactions for online sports betting in the United States. They also happen to be among the biggest revenue drivers for operators. 

Sportsbooks typically won’t react kindly when outside forces attempt to eradicate prop bets. This is especially true when it comes to betting on college football Bowl games. And it is even truer when it comes to markets with NCAAF teams that may feature in prominent Bowl Games. The Show Me State is home to a pair of those programs. One of them is the University of Missouri Division I football team. Missouri State University has the other squad.

Eliminating College Prop Betting May Be Difficult But Not Impossible

With so much about the launch of Missouri sports betting still billowing in the wind, the exact setup that will follow the Amendment 2 legalization isn’t quite clear. However, while limiting college sports betting options can often be difficult, it is not impossible.

Certain states have restrictions on in-market programs, specifically. This is the current construct for sports betting in Nebraska and even sports betting in Massachusetts. Missouri could follow in their footsteps and disallow sportsbooks to offer wagers on games taking place inside the state that aren’t part of the playoffs or a championship event.

In some cases, there can be more sweeping limitations placed on prop betting. Consider sports betting in New York as an example. Despite being the most lucrative sports betting market in the U.S., The Empire State does not allow residents to invest in year-end player awards betting odds. To be sure, these wagers are another form of online prop betting. So, effectively, it is proof that wholesale guardrails can be placed on wagering types even in the most aggressive markets. 

Of course, the initial language matters when it comes to sports betting legalization. If Amendment 2 doesn’t specifically call for certain college props or bets to be restricted, it will be difficult to change that without further legislation. That type of adjustment can take time—certainly more time than what separates Missouri from its sports gambling launch.

When Will Missouri Sports Betting Actually Launch?

Speaking of which, we do not yet have a definite date for the Missouri sports betting launch. Amendment 2 stipulates that it must go live by December 1, 2025. Initially, though, the Missouri Gaming Commission applied for an emergency ruling that would allow it to expedite the launch. If successful, their request would have paved the way for an August 2025 Missouri sports wagering launch.

Right now, though, this timeline feels unlikely. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the application for emergency rule changes and expedition. Those proposals are usually meant to safeguard the state against potential public harm. He argues a delayed sports gambling launch will not hurt the state. He also says that Missouri should have no trouble launching by December 1 by following standard operating procedure.

Members of the Missouri Gaming Commission disagree. Others, meanwhile, believe this setback can be overcome in time for an end of September 30 launch.

Add it all up, and the Missouri sports betting timelines remains something of a mystery. We know it will happen by December 1. It also sure seems like it will not launch in time for the start of college football season or the NFL regular season. But the extent of its delay isn’t yet known. And that, in turn, may give the University of Missouri more time to formulate and push its plan to limit or ban on-campus sports betting.

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