Missouri sports gamblers have actually crossed into Kansas for nearly 3 years to put legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas residents may do the very same.
Key takeaways
- Kansas legislators stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions up until 2026, hinting at possible regulative changes that could affect its 6 legal operators after 2027.
- Missouri is set to launch legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, potentially reversing cross-border betting trends as Kansas wagerers may head east.
- Future changes in Kansas might include a sole-operator model or sports betting tax hikes, affecting competition and encouraging gamblers to look for alternatives in Missouri.
Kansas sports betting background
Kansas released its very first legal mobile sportsbooks in 2022. Six books now take bets: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics and FanDuel.
The capability to place legal bets in Kansas brings in wagerers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City city location to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.
That could alter if Kansas legislators overthrow the current regulatory structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators wish to increase the state's sports betting tax profits, amongst the most affordable per capita of any of the 30 states with statewide legal mobile sportsbooks.
Kansas' likely reconsideration of its six-book legal sports wagering market next year will come after Missouri goes deal with as many as a dozen books; if Kansas significantly reduces its offerings, sports betting it could lead KS wagerers to put bets in MO, the opposite of the current pattern
The changes might be as basic as a tax increase. It could likewise lead to a sole-source operator model some legislators are considering, one that might produce more direct revenue for the state however possibly displace some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks when their licenses end in Aug. 2027.
The legislation passed earlier this month only positions a restriction up until 2026, meaning Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses expire the following year. Lawmakers might not even think about a significant modification to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, indicating no perceptible impact for Sunflower State bettors.
But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for significant modifications that didn't seem practical weeks ago.
Missouri sportsbooks prepare to introduce
The Kansas relocation comes as Missouri nears the launch of its legal sportsbooks.
Missouri's multi-year sports betting legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when citizens narrowly authorized a tally procedure to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of unsuccessful efforts to legalize sports betting in the legislature.
Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to begin taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are also set to be nearly twice as numerous wagering choices in Missouri as Kansas.
FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the tally measure. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have, as expected, announced strategies to take bets in Missouri as soon as accredited.
Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog also announced launch plans. Bet365 struck a handle MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and also prepares to accept bets in the state.
Caesars, which opposed the tally step over license allocation issues, operates three Missouri casinos and is eligible to introduce its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri gambling establishments that grant them instant market gain access to.
Other books consisting of Hard Rock, live in Illinois, could likewise pursue among roughly two-dozen possible Missouri sports betting wagering licenses.
The broader array of Show Me State betting choices could draw in Kansas bettors in the Kansas City city location to Missouri to place bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite direction. This might speed up if the Sunflower State reduces its sportsbook roster, particularly if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
Missouri citizens in the Kansas City city were the most ardent advocates of the sports wagering ballot measure, which might highlight residents' interest in putting bets in their home state as soon as books go live.
Missouri's sports betting wagering lineup doubts ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks might alter too in the occurring years.
