Missouri sports wagerers have crossed into Kansas for nearly 3 years to place legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas citizens may do the exact same.

Key takeaways

- Kansas lawmakers halted new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, meaning possible regulatory changes that might impact its 6 legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to release legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, possibly reversing cross-border betting trends as Kansas wagerers may head east.

- Future modifications in Kansas could consist of a sole-operator model or tax walkings, affecting competition and motivating bettors to look for alternatives in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background

Kansas launched its very first legal mobile sportsbooks in 2022. Six books now take bets: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics and FanDuel.

The capability to put legal bets in Kansas brings in wagerers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro location to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.

That might alter if Kansas legislators overthrow the current regulatory structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators want to increase the state's sports betting wagering tax profits, among the lowest 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 cope with as numerous as a dozen books; if Kansas considerably curtails its offerings, it could lead KS wagerers to put bets in MO, the opposite of the current pattern

The modifications might be as basic as a tax boost. It could also lead to a sole-source operator model some lawmakers are considering, one that could create more direct income for the state however potentially displace some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks as soon as their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month just puts a restriction till 2026, suggesting Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets up until their licenses end the list below year. Lawmakers might not even think about a remarkable change to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, suggesting no perceptible impact for Sunflower State gamblers.

But the license extension prohibition leaves the possibility for remarkable changes that didn't appear 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 wagering legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when citizens narrowly approved a tally step 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 start taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are likewise set to be nearly two times as lots of betting choices in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the ballot measure. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have actually, as expected, announced strategies to take bets in Missouri once licensed.

Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog likewise revealed launch plans. Bet365 struck a handle MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and sports betting also plans to accept bets in the state.

Caesars, which opposed the ballot procedure over license allocation issues, operates 3 Missouri casinos and is eligible to release its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise operate Missouri casinos that give them immediate market gain access to.

Other books consisting of Acid rock, reside in Illinois, might likewise pursue among roughly two-dozen possible Missouri sports betting licenses.

The larger variety of Show Me State betting alternatives might draw in Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City metro location to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite instructions. This might accelerate if the Sunflower State cuts 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 procedure, which might underscore homeowners' interest in placing bets in their home state once books go live.

Missouri's sports betting lineup doubts ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks might change too in the occurring years.