St. Louis has had a ton of success as a sports city in over the past two decades. The St. Louis Blues just won the Stanley Cup in 2019, while the Cardinals won the World Series in both 2011 and 2006. St. Louis also added an MLS team in 2023 (St. Louis City SC), which returned the city to having 3 major sports teams. It’s a good time to be a sports fan in St. Louis.
Sports betting has gained tremendous popularity in St. Louis and the United States as a whole over the past decade. Access to respected offshore betting sites such as Bovada or BetOnline is available to St. Louis residents and sports betting as a whole has gone much more main stream in the past few years. On this page I will look at the legalities of betting on sports in St. Louis, recommend two offshore betting sites and look at the horse race betting options in the city.
Is Sports Betting Legal in St. Louis?
The easiest way to answer this question is in two parts.
For the operator…
It is not legal to operate a sportsbook within Missouri. Sports betting bills have been introduced in recent years and there is optimism that regulated sports betting will be allowed in the state in the next few years.
For the bettor…
There are no laws prohibiting St. Louis residents from joining and placing wagers through offshore betting sites. These sites, like the two I’ve outlined below, are licensed and regulated outside of the USA and have been serving the American market for many years.
Best Sportsbooks for St. Louis Residents
The following two betting sites are the most popular and reputable betting sites used by St. Louis residents.
Both sites are offshore betting sites that are licensed, regulated and located outside of the United States. Both sites have served the United States betting market for over a decade and have built their betting platform to best serve American clients.
Check out our reviews below for more information:
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
Offline Sports Betting in St. Louis
Unfortunately, offline sports betting is not currently allowed in the state of Missouri. Legislative efforts have begun during the 2024 legislative session, but it seems unlikely a sports betting bill will pass through both the House and Senate this year.
That said, across the Mississippi River, Illinois has legalized sports betting and there is a sportsbook available at Casino Queen in East St. Louis.
Fairmount Park
Horse racing bettors can also find a great track in East St. Louis.
Fairmount Park Racetrack is a horse racing track located about 20 minutes east of downtown St. Louis, across the border in Illinois. The track offers live Thoroughbred racing on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the racing season. Simulcast horse race betting is also available at the track daily, with the gates opening at 11am.
If you are not able to head to the track you can also bet on the Fairmount Park races at either Bovada or BetOnline.
**Sports betting is also offered at the track.
Major Sports Teams in St. Louis
- St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball – MLB)
- St. Louis Blues (Hockey – NHL)
- St. Louis City FC (Soccer – MLS)
How To Bet Sports Online From St. Louis
Follow this three step tutorial to place your sports bets online from anywhere in St. Louis.
Step 1. Join Bovada.lv
Click the above link and complete the sign up form on the home page to open your account.
Step 2. Deposit
After logging into your account click the ‘Deposit’ link under your account drop down menu. Select your deposit method, enter your amount, and follow the instructions to make your deposit.
Bovada accepts deposits via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
- Click ‘Sports’ from the top menu bar on the Bovada website.
- Select the sport you want to bet on from the ‘All Sports A-Z’ menu.
- Narrow your search to the competition or league you’re looking for from the sport specific menu.
- Select the odds of the bet you want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip and click ‘Place Bet’ to make your wager.
Ready to bet from St. Louis? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.