Missouri’s plan to launch legal sports betting this summer has been delayed after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected an emergency rulemaking request filed by the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC). The decision, announced on February 21, means that regulators must follow the standard rulemaking process, effectively pushing the anticipated June launch to late summer or fall 2025.

Hoskins stated that the proposed emergency rules, which were submitted to Governor Mike Kehoe on January 27, did not meet the legal requirements for emergency approval.

Under Missouri law, emergency rulemaking can only be granted if there is “immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare” or if the rule is necessary to “preserve a compelling governmental interest that requires an early effective date.” Hoskins determined that sports betting regulations did not meet these conditions, meaning they must proceed through the standard rulemaking process, which includes a public input period.

The MGC had initially targeted June 2025 as the market’s launch date, despite the state’s legal deadline requiring that wagering begin no later than December 1, 2025. Following Hoskins’ rejection, the MGC confirmed that its proposed licensing rules, which were filed alongside the emergency request, will become effective on August 30, 2025.

SCCG Management, a global leader in gaming advisory and business development, has entered into a strategic partnership with INSTALOCK Network, the esports betting hub that combines data analytics, content, community, news, and educational resources. This collaboration will focus on accelerating business development, go-to-market strategy, and capital-raising efforts to expand INSTALOCK Network’s influence in the growing esports betting sector.

With esports betting already valued at over $11.3 billion, there remains a lack of centralized, easily accessible betting insights and community-driven engagement. INSTALOCK solves this by serving as the go-to daily destination for esports bettors, offering historical betting data, match results, betting projections, expert analytics, and an engagement hub where fans can analyze data and stay updated on the latest matches and esports betting environment. By aggregating insights from stats and several sportsbooks within esports, across major esports titles—including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty—INSTALOCK simplifies the experience for both casual bettors and seasoned experts while fostering an interactive community built around esports betting.

Through this strategic partnership, SCCG Management will leverage its industry expertise, extensive global network, and business development capabilities to elevate INSTALOCK as the leading esports betting engagement platform. SCCG will support INSTALOCK in identifying high-value partnerships, refining its market strategy across multiple jurisdictions, and assisting in capital-raising efforts to further develop and scale its platform. With a proven history of guiding gaming and betting companies toward sustainable growth, SCCG will play a crucial role in expanding INSTALOCK’s reach and driving user adoption.

“Esports betting is not just about placing wagers—it’s about community, engagement, and shared insights. INSTALOCK is redefining how esports bettors interact by creating a hub where data, predictions, and social conversations all come together in one place. We’re excited to support their expansion and help build the ultimate destination for esports betting enthusiasts,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder & CEO of SCCG Management.

“In 2022, I realized esports betting had tons of potential and growth ahead, but it was hindered by an extremely high barrier to entry due to lack of accessible general information and data. Where to bet, how to bet, when are the major matches taking place, what are community members betting on, what are the experts saying are just some of the questions I wanted to solve in one place with INSTALOCK Network. I’m happy to be a part of this partnership with a SCCG Management team that knows both the betting space and esports space at a high level and look forward to accelerating from this point forward,” said Sabah Banse, Founder of INSTALOCK Network.

Buffalo Casino & Resort has chosen Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Chatalytics, an AI-based platform, to transform casino operations and enhance guest satisfaction. The QCI Chatalytics package—encompassing Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, the Dashboard, and the Robot Button—integrates OpenAI technology for real-time insights and efficient decision-making across the gaming floor.

Designed to boost both player and slot management, QCI Chatalytics delivers an advanced combination of AI-driven features. Slot Copilot empowers operators with live slot machine performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and automatically assigned tasks. Player Copilot focuses on personalized engagement by analyzing guest data to guide service strategies and reward offerings. With the Dashboard, teams benefit from an easy-to-read, real-time overview of key performance metrics, enabling swift, data-informed insights. Additionally, the Robot Button automates routine tasks, freeing up staff to concentrate on more valuable responsibilities and boosting overall productivity.

Mary Jewett, General Manager of Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, said: “Bringing QCI Chatalytics on board represents a vital step in leveraging AI to enhance our operations. With cutting-edge tools like the Robot Button, Slot Copilot, and Player Copilot, we can offer more tailored guest experiences while gaining a clearer understanding of our gaming operations.”

Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, said: “We are thrilled to introduce QCI Chatalytics to Buffalo Casino & Resort. By weaving OpenAI’s capabilities into our solution, we deliver an unprecedented degree of automation and clarity. We believe Chatalytics will be a key factor in refining casino floor management and boosting guest satisfaction through instantaneous, data-driven decision-making.”