The Missouri Gaming Commission hopes to open license applications for sportsbooks by mid-May, the next step toward making sports betting available in the state.

Voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 — by a margin of less than 3,000 votes — in the November general election. The amendment legalized licensed sports betting and assigned its regulation to the Missouri Gaming Commission.

The commission announced on its website that it intends to work with stakeholders to make license applications available on May 15. Companies such as FanDual, DraftKings and Fanatics can start gathering the necessary documents to complete their applications.

According to the Missouri Gaming Commission website, licensing rules are scheduled to go into effect Aug. 30. The three and a half-month interim period will help ensure the commission can properly review applications before decisions are made and temporary licenses are issued, according to the commission.