Missouri sports gamblers have actually crossed into Kansas for sports betting almost three years to position legal sports betting bets. Three years from now, Kansas citizens might do the same.
Key takeaways
- Kansas lawmakers stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, meaning possible regulatory changes that might affect its 6 legal operators after 2027.
- Missouri is set to release legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, possibly reversing cross-border betting patterns as Kansas gamblers may head east.
- Future modifications in Kansas could consist of a sole-operator design or tax hikes, impacting competition and motivating gamblers to seek alternatives in Missouri.
Kansas sports betting wagering background
Kansas released its first legal mobile sportsbooks in 2022. Six books now take bets: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics and sports betting FanDuel.
The ability to place legal bets in Kansas attracts gamblers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City city area to Kansas to wager, sports betting with some doing so most or nearly every day of the week.
That might change if Kansas lawmakers upend the existing regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some lawmakers want to increase the state's sports wagering tax earnings, 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 follow Missouri goes cope with as many as a lots books; if Kansas drastically curtails its offerings, it might lead KS bettors to place bets in MO, the opposite of the present pattern
The changes might be as basic as a tax increase. It might also lead to a sole-source operator sports betting design some legislators are considering, sports betting one that could create more direct earnings for the state however possibly dislodge some or all of the six existing sportsbooks as soon as their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.
The legislation passed previously this month just places a prohibition until 2026, suggesting Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets till their licenses expire the following year. Lawmakers might not even think about a remarkable modification to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, meaning no perceptible effect for Sunflower State wagerers.
But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for dramatic changes that didn't seem practical weeks ago.
Missouri sportsbooks prepare to release
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 directly authorized a ballot 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 likewise set to be almost two times as lots of betting choices in Missouri as Kansas.
FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the ballot procedure. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have, as expected, sports betting announced strategies to take bets in Missouri when accredited.
Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog also revealed launch strategies. Bet365 struck a handle MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and also plans to accept bets in the state.
Caesars, which opposed the tally step over license allocation concerns, operates 3 Missouri casinos and is qualified to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise operate Missouri casinos that grant them immediate market gain access to.
Other books consisting of Acid rock, sports betting live in Illinois, could likewise pursue one of approximately two-dozen possible Missouri sports betting licenses.
The larger selection of Show Me State betting choices might draw in Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City city area to Missouri to position bets, reversing years of gambler traffic going the opposite instructions. This could accelerate if the Sunflower State reduces its sportsbook lineup, especially if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
Missouri voters in the Kansas City city were the most ardent supporters of the sports betting ballot procedure, which could underscore residents' interest in putting bets in their home state once books go live.
Missouri's sports wagering lineup is unsure ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks might change too in the taking place years.
