Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a casino in Branson (or nearby in the surrounding area) – you’re going to have a tough time finding one… there aren’t any.

While there has been much debate at the local and state level, it doesn’t appear that they will be making their way to the area anytime soon. Recent statewide legislation prohibits the possibility of any casinos coming to town and hindered further developments of them in the state of Missouri.

Missouri has always had a favorable stance concerning gambling. For the last several years Missouri has shown interest in joining other US states that permit legal sports betting by introducing multiple pieces of legislation related to legalizing domestic sports wagering. Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America. Below you will find the minimum legal age to gamble in various locations around the U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In the 50 American states, some times you'll see a variance, this usually is due to Indian casinos having different age requirements in their casinos than state regulated. Like many states, Missouri does not expressly codify whether online gambling is permitted. As such, online gambling exists in a sort of gray area. Missourians can access some of the offshore sites available (though not all – the Merge network is notably restricted).

However, if you are looking to visit one – there are several that you may pass on your way into town.

• Gambling Age in Missouri In order to gamble on a riverboat casino in Missouri, you must be at least 21 years of age. However, you can buy a lottery ticket from 18. The state has some of the most lenient drinking laws in the country, but you still have to be 21 to purchase or drink alcohol, as with the rest of the country.
• Legal Gambling Age For Missouri Residents So many players ask us how old they have to be to begin gambling on sports over the Internet, and this is why we have brought our readers the legal gambling age in Missouri is 21. If you are 21 years of age or older, you are freely able to gamble on sports on the Internet.

Casinos in Missouri

If you’re traveling from the North into Branson, there are several casinos located throughout the state.

• St. Louis – with several to choose from, the area is a popular spot for gamblers looking to play. This east-side city features large boats like Harrah’s, and Ameristar amongst others. It’s approximately a 3-4 hour drive from town.
• Kansas City – like St. Louis this city on the western side of the state also features several riverboats offering up slot machines, poker, and other table games. Although on the opposite side of the state, it is also just a 3-4 hour drive.
• Joplin – while technically in the state of Oklahoma, Downstream Casino is one of the most recent additions to gambling near town. This is possibly the most visited place for visitors as it sits just a short drive outside of town. Drive-time from the area is about 2 hours and can be easily accessed via I-44.

Gambling in Arkansas

Because of the strict regulations on gambling within the state, there are few options to choose from.

• West Memphis – the town features a racetrack in addition to electronic games and sits about 5 hours south of town. Traveling there is not as direct as the Missouri venues because of the winding roads and mountains that you must travel in order to get there.

Oklahoma Casinos

Bordering the west side of the state, Oklahoma offers dozens of tribe-operated casinos where you can try your luck.

• Salisaw & Miami – these two cities feature some of the most-visited by those visiting Branson as they lie against the state lines. Driving to these properties will take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on which city you visit.

Accessible from almost any direction traveled

No matter where you’re traveling from, if you’re looking to gamble a bit before visiting or on your way home, these casinos provide everything you might expect from world-class gambling facilities.

At any time of day, on any day of the year, it’s a good bet that poker is being played in Missouri. You could be looking at a high-stakes game at one of the state’s casinos, or perhaps a more casual affair conducted among friends.

Most of the hands of poker played in Missouri, however, probably take place online – an area that we’re going to cover extensively in our Guide to Missouri and Online Poker.

One of the most common questions we receive is: “Can I play poker online if I live in Missouri?“. The answer is yes. Missouri does not have any laws that state it is illegal to play online poker. There are still a number of poker sites that accept players from Missouri.

Is Online Poker Legal in Missouri?

Can I play poker legally in Missouri? Is it legal to participate in real-money games of poker over the Internet? These are common questions we get from readers, and our answer is always the same: While we can provide you with some basic facts about the law, questions about the legality of something not specifically addressed by law – like online poker – can only be answered by a lawyer.

We know that state law can be a complex and convoluted thing, so we’ve assembled some of the critical parts into an easy-to-read list that should give you the broad strokes of gambling law in Missouri.

What counts as gambling in Missouri? An activity has to be unlicensed by the state and must require a person to stake or risk

“something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence” (Section 572.010(4).

Can You Gamble Online In Missouri

Participating in such activity is a misdemeanor in Missouri.

The one exception: Social gambling (no house, in private, occurring among people with a genuine social relationship) is permitted and not required to be licensed (Section 572.010(8)).

Missouri has one quirk of law that should be of special interest to poker players. If you are a “professional player” – defined as someone who has earned a minimum of 20% of their yearly income in any of the last 5 years (Section 572.010(9)), you face a much stiffer charge for illegal gambling – it’s a class D felony.

Profiting from the operation of illegal gambling activity – a concept defined quite broadly by Missouri – can range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the size of the operation and whether or not it involves bookmaking or a lottery (Section 572.030-040).

“Possession of a gambling device” (Section 572.070) is defined in a similarly broad fashion and could easily include the cards and chips used in a card game, and perhaps even the software and computer involved in an online game of poker.

The above represents only our summary of what we consider to be the key points of Missouri law as it pertains to online poker. For the complete text of the Missouri statutes, visit the webpage for the Missouri Secretary of State .

Will Missouri Regulate Online Poker?

We doubt that Missouri will lead the way when it comes to online poker regulation, but a few factors give us confidence that the state would follow along if a broader, national trend of regulation took place. The first factor is the presence of several major casino corporations in the state, a force that will be keen to push online poker regulation for competitive reasons. The second is the state’s general willingness to embark on gambling expansion. The third is the condition of the state budget (poor) and the need to rectify that situation (pressing). Put it all together and you get a reasonable case that Missouri won’t buck a nationwide push to bring regulated online poker to American players.

Missouri: Poker, Gaming and Gambling

Missouri’s relationship with gambling mirrors that of its more conservative neighbors. While the state certainly had its fair share of unregulated gambling during the 1800s and early 1900s, it took quite some time for Missouri to embrace those elements and craft them into a regulated gambling industry. For example, Missouri was relatively late to introduce a lottery, selling their first tickets in 1986 – over 20 years after New Hampshire kicked off the legal lotto revival in the US.

Overview of Regulated Gambling Options in Missouri

The state lottery remains in operation today, and is one of a diverse menu of regulated gambling activities in Missouri. The riverboat casino is the dominant form, with a double-digit tally of the gaming vessels spread across the state’s waterways. Tribes are also a presence in Missouri’s gambling industry, which suffers only from a lack of racetracks and pari-mutuel wagering.

Overview of Missouri-Regulated Online Gambling

As of the writing of this article, the state of Missouri does not directly regulate any form of online gambling, including online poker. The state’s fondness for gambling indicates that regulated online poker could come to the state at some point, but we don’t see a clear path to state-backed online gambling in the status quo.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

• Legislative efforts are underway in Illinois and Missouri to expand gambling. Both initiatives seek to expand the number of places which can host slot machines with new “video gambling” laws. The issues being debated are different in each of the neighboring states, but both issues call for more gambling at

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• Russian casino cheats engineered a software program which made American slot machines go haywire in June 2014, according to a report released this week by Wired. The software caused several slot machines in the Lumiere Casino in St. Louis to produce a “negative hold” over two days in early June

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• Jeremy Klausner, the lead attorney for Borgata, filed a critical response to a previous legal filing by playing-card manufacturer Gemaco, which is involved in the Borgata-Phil Ivey lawsuit. Previously, the Kansas City-based Gemaco filed a motion for a summary judgment in the case. The litigation stems from a lawsuit Borgata

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Missouri Poker & Gambling Research Sources

AGA Missouri Overview . Resource from the American Gaming Association that provides a snapshot of the gambling industry in the state of Missouri. Access quick facts about the revenue, regulation and scope of regulated gambling within Missouri’s borders.

Missouri Gaming Commission. Self-exclusion, financial statements, licensee information and a host of other facts, forms and resources at the home page for the agency primarily responsible for gambling regulation.

Missouri Gaming Association. Trade group representing the majority of licensed operators in Missouri. Litany of articles, papers and other information related to Missouri’s regulated gambling industry.

Missouri’s Place in Poker History

Can You Gamble At 18 In Missouri

Certainly not thought of as a poker epicenter, Missouri surprises many when they learn of the state’s varied connections to some of poker’s biggest stories. Two World Series of Poker champions have ties to Missouri; Greg Raymer attended college there, and 2006 winner Jamie Gold was born in the state.

Gold isn’t the only poker notable to come out of Missouri. One of the original stars of poker, Mike Caro, is a native of Joplin. Noted for his books and videos, Caro is also credited with crafting the first AI-based poker opponent, which he debuted at the 1984 WSOP.

Can You Gamble At 18 In Missouri

Sources & Citations For This Article on Missouri Online Poker