Legal Online Poker in Missouri

by Adrian Sterne Updated: April 18, 2023

Missouri still hasn’t officially legalized online poker, and it doesn’t look like the Show-Me State has any plans to do so soon. Some legislators tried to push online gambling bills in the past but to no avail. That said, you can legally play poker in Missouri on social and sweepstakes gaming sites or any of the state’s land-based casinos.

Is Online Poker Legal in MO?
Best Legal MO Poker Rooms
Registering On A MO Poker Site
Where To Play Poker In MO
Resources
FAQ

However, social and sweepstakes sites don’t offer the same real-money experience as classic online casinos, and land-based gambling halls require physical presence. So, how do you get real-money gameplay when you don’t feel like visiting brick-and-mortar casinos? The solution exists, and it’s in the text you’re about to read.

Is Online Poker Legal in Missouri?

The Show-Me State regulates gambling as per the Revised Statutes of Missouri, Chapter 572. The document directly allows poker in land-based casinos but doesn’t offer any information related to online poker.

Also, according to the current legal definitions, Missouri treats unlawful gambling as a misdemeanor that can belong to a different class depending on several factors. However, since the statutes don’t mention online gambling or online poker in particular, it’s difficult to conclude whether the popular pastime remains legal in this form.

The state’s unwillingness to precisely define the legal status of online poker and other game types has created two schools of thought in Missouri. While some believe that everything without official legal approval is prohibited, others use the lack of regulations as an excuse to trust their own interpretation.

This clash of opinions has placed online poker in MO in the gray zone and consequently attracted offshore gambling sites to the Show-Me State. As these online casinos operate internationally and only report to the jurisdiction in which they are licensed, they have all the right to accept players from Missouri.

It is, therefore, your choice whether you wish to participate in online poker games provided by international casinos until Missouri legalizes online gambling. If you’re in doubt about joining an offshore casino, you can always ask legal experts about the potential consequences to make an informed decision.

Poker Laws

Law You can do some additional reading on the topic of poker legality in Missouri in the documents below:

Best Legal Poker Rooms in Missouri

Missouri has more than enough poker rooms for all its poker aficionados. Legal land-based options are all around the state, while online poker players have to look for alternatives due to the lack of legal real-money poker sites. All in all, Missouri players can’t get out of options for playing poker.

Legal Online Poker in Missouri

Missouri’s relationship with online poker could easily fall under the “it’s complicated” phrase. The state still hasn’t regulated online gambling, which is why many MO residents consider the activity illegal.

Furthermore, there’s no online poker bill in sight, so poker players can’t hope to see legal gaming platforms in the near future. The lawmakers said no to all the previous attempts to legalize online poker even though the regulated market could increase tax revenue and put a stop to underground gambling operations.

While you wait for the state to legalize online poker, you can practice at social and sweepstakes casinos, which are legal in Missouri. Another option includes playing at offshore poker rooms, which accept Missouri players with open arms. Although some people believe all international sites are shady, we assure you this isn’t true for all of them. If you follow our lead and pick the right offshore casinos, you’ll have an enjoyable poker experience, at the very least.

My list of the best US poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:

BetOnline Poker
Ignition Poker
Everygame Poker
Juicy Stakes Poker
ACR Poker
Bovada Poker
BlackChip Poker
SportsBetting Poker

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Land-Based Poker in Missouri

Unlike online poker, land-based poker is legal in the Show-Me State. You’ll find plenty of poker rooms in a dozen Missouri brick-and-mortar casinos, all of them packed with tables for different poker games.

Texas Hold’Em and Omaha are the main poker titles offered by almost every casino. In addition, gambling venues offer variations like Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, and many others.

How to Register on a Legal Online Poker Site in Missouri

Players from Missouri usually have no issues opening an account at online casinos. Yet, you must pick the right platform to ensure your poker sessions are hassle-free. It’s also useful to have someone lead you through the necessary registration steps:

Choose an online poker site

Explore this page and pick a poker room you’d like to join.

Signup

Follow the link leading you to the chosen site and hit the registration button.

Fill out the sign-up form with personal details like your full name, address, email, phone number, and other requested information.

Come up with a username and password. Make sure they are unique and only known to you.

Verify your account and use your credentials for your first login. If you don’t want to type the login details in the future, tick the box for the site to save them.

Deposit & Play

Go to the Cashier page to make your first deposit and claim the welcome bonus if the casino offers any.

Pick a poker game and have fun!

If you’re playing poker on your computer or laptop, you can do so in your browser or through a downloadable client. Most casinos also support mobile gaming, and the options are somewhat similar — use your mobile browser to access the casino or download a native mobile app for faster access to the operator’s poker lobby.

Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker

Missouri has a dozen casinos scattered throughout the state. They’re equipped with great poker rooms where you can try your luck on different poker titles. We selected the top five, so now it’s your turn to make a selection:

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles — 1 Ameristar Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63301
Hollywood Casino & Hotel St. Louis — 777 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Harrah’s Kansas City — 1 Riverboat Drive, North Kansas City, MO 64116
Horseshoe St. Louis (ex Lumiere Place) — 999 N. Second St., St. Louis, MO 63102
River City Casino — 777 River City Casino Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63125

Other Resources

Final Thoughts

Online poker still hasn’t become legal in Missouri, and the chances for a change seem slim from this perspective. Yet, players from the Show-Me State have several options at hand to enjoy their favorite card game. The options include poker rooms at Missouri’s land-based casinos, sweepstakes or social casinos, and offshore poker sites.

Even though many argue that international poker sites aren’t reliable, we believe there still are trustworthy online casinos. In fact, we’ve found crème de la crème internet poker rooms, so you can pick one without dwelling on the thought it may trick you in any way.

FAQ

Is online poker legal in Missouri?

Missouri has no laws regulating online poker, so the legality of this activity isn’t clearly defined. While some players see the lack of laws as a straightforward sign of illegality, others think no one can punish you for an activity that isn’t properly regulated.

Can I play poker on my mobile device on offshore sites?

Yes, you can. Offshore casinos support mobile gameplay through a browser or a standalone app.

Do Missouri poker sites have live dealer games?

Almost all poker sites nowadays offer live dealer poker games. These games are usually listed under the Live Casino tab and feature different dealers, poker titles, and betting limits.