Is Online Poker Legal in Missouri? What Most People Get Wrong

So, you’re sitting at home in St. Louis or maybe out in Springfield, and you’ve got that itch to play a few hands. You pull up your laptop, wondering if you can actually click "deal" without looking over your shoulder. Honestly, the answer to is online poker legal in Missouri is a bit of a mess. It’s not a simple yes or no, though mostly it’s a "not exactly."

If you’re looking for a state-regulated, Missouri-licensed app like the ones they have in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you’re out of luck. They don’t exist here.

Missouri has a long, weird history with gambling. We love our riverboats. We finally—after years of bickering in the legislature—legalized sports betting. As of December 1, 2025, you can legally bet on the Chiefs or the Cardinals from your phone. But poker? Poker got left at the station. While sportsbooks are now live and kicking, online poker remains in this frustrating legal limbo.

The Reality of Online Poker Legality in Missouri

Let’s get into the weeds. Missouri Revised Statutes, specifically Chapter 572, is where the buzzkill happens. The law defines gambling as risking something of value on a "contest of chance." The state argues that poker, despite all the strategy and math we know is involved, falls under this umbrella.

Technically, under Section 572.020, engaging in "unauthorized" gambling is a Class C misdemeanor.

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Does this mean the police are going to kick down your door for playing a $10 tournament on a random website? Probably not. The state is way more interested in the "professional players" or the people running the sites—the "advancers" of gambling. But just because they aren't hunting you down doesn't mean it's "legal." It's more like a gray area that's actually just dark charcoal.

Why Sports Betting is Legal but Poker Isn't

You've probably seen the news about Amendment 2. Voters narrowly passed it in November 2024, and the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) moved surprisingly fast to get it running by late 2025.

• The Revenue Factor: Sports betting had massive backing from the pro teams.
• The Narrow Scope: The amendment was very specific to "sports wagering."
• The Poker Problem: Lawmakers often see online poker as a different beast. It requires "liquidity," meaning you need a lot of players to keep the games running. Missouri would likely need to join a multi-state compact (like MSIGA) to make it viable, and our politicians haven't even started that conversation.

Sweepstakes Poker: The "Loophole" That Works

If you’re frustrated, you aren't alone. Most people in the Show-Me State who want a game turn to sweepstakes poker. This is actually legal. Sorta.

Sites like ClubWPT or Global Poker don't use "real money" in the traditional sense. You buy "Gold Coins" for fun, and they give you "Sweeps Coins" as a bonus. You use those Sweeps Coins to enter games, and those can be redeemed for cash prizes. Because you aren't technically "depositing" money to bet, it bypasses the gambling laws. It sounds like a massive workaround—and it is—but it's the only way to play online legally in Missouri right now.

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Offshore Sites: A Dangerous Game

You've definitely seen the ads for sites like Bovada or BetOnline. These are "offshore" sites. They operate out of places like Curaçao or Panama.

Here’s the thing: Missouri law doesn't have the reach to shut them down. But you have zero protection. If one of those sites decides to freeze your account or "forget" to send your $2,000 withdrawal, the Missouri Gaming Commission isn't going to help you. You're basically on your own. Plus, banks in the US are getting way better at blocking these transactions because of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

What About Home Games?

Since we're talking about poker, you might be thinking, "Fine, I'll just host a game at my house."

In Missouri, "social gambling" is generally okay as long as nobody is taking a rake. If you're the host and you're charging a seat fee or taking a percentage of the pot to pay for the pizza, you’ve just committed a felony (promoting gambling). Keep it friendly, keep the house out of the profit, and you're fine.

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The Future: When Will It Change?

Don't hold your breath for 2026. While the success of sports betting might open the door, there is currently no serious bill on the floor to legalize Missouri online poker.

The casino lobby in the state is powerful. They have 13 riverboat casinos, and they are very protective of their turf. Some fear online poker will keep people away from the physical tables in Kansas City or St. Louis. Until the casinos and the state can agree on how to split the tax revenue—and until there's enough public pressure—poker will likely stay in the shadows.

Actionable Steps for Missouri Players

If you want to play right now, here is what you should actually do:

1. Stick to Sweepstakes: Use sites like Global Poker or Stake.us. They are legally compliant and actually pay out to Missouri residents without the risk of a misdemeanor or a frozen bank account.
2. Visit a Licensed Casino: If you want the real-money experience without the legal headache, go to a physical card room. Places like Ameristar St. Louis or Hollywood Casino have great live poker scenes.
3. Watch the Legislature: Keep an eye on the Missouri House and Senate journals for any mention of "iGaming" or "online casino expansion." That’s where poker will be tucked away.
4. Report Your Winnings: Seriously. Even if the state hasn't "legalized" the site you used, the IRS and the Missouri Department of Revenue still want their cut. Missouri taxes gambling winnings as regular income (5.4% for most).

Online poker in Missouri is a "proceed with caution" situation. We've got the sports betting apps now, which is a huge step, but the cards and chips are still waiting for their turn in the sun. For now, play smart, know the risks of offshore sites, and maybe stick to the sweepstakes model if you want to keep things strictly above board.