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

Key takeaways

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

- Missouri is set to release legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, potentially reversing cross-border wagering patterns as Kansas bettors might head east.

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

Kansas sports wagering 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 position legal bets in Kansas brings in bettors on the Missouri side of the Kansas City city area to Kansas to bet, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.

That could change if Kansas lawmakers overthrow the current regulatory structure. Sources tell Covers some legislators desire to increase the state's sports betting tax revenue, among the most affordable per capita of any of the 30 states with statewide legal mobile sportsbooks.

Kansas' most likely reconsideration of its six-book legal sports betting wagering market next year will follow Missouri goes live with as many as a dozen books; if Kansas significantly reduces its offerings, it could lead KS bettors to put bets in MO, the reverse of the current pattern

The modifications could be as basic as a tax increase. It could also result in a sole-source operator model some lawmakers are thinking about, one that could produce more direct profits for the state however possibly dislodge some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks once their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month only places a restriction till 2026, suggesting Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets up until their licenses end the list below year. Lawmakers may not even consider a dramatic modification to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, indicating no noticeable effect for Sunflower State wagerers.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for dramatic modifications that didn't seem possible weeks earlier.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to release

The Kansas move comes as Missouri nears the launch of its legal sportsbooks.

Missouri's multi-year sports betting legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when voters narrowly authorized a tally step to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of failed efforts to legalize sports wagering in the legislature.

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to begin taking bets in the 4th quarter of 2025. There are likewise set to be almost twice as many betting alternatives 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, as expected, announced plans to take bets in Missouri as soon as certified.

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

Caesars, which opposed the tally step over license allocation concerns, runs three Missouri gambling establishments and is qualified to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and sports betting Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri casinos that approve them immediate market access.

Other books including Acid rock, reside in Illinois, could likewise pursue one of approximately two-dozen prospective Missouri sports betting licenses.

The broader selection of Show Me State wagering options could attract Kansas bettors in the Kansas City city location to Missouri to place bets, reversing years of gambler traffic going the opposite direction. This might accelerate if the Sunflower State cuts its sportsbook lineup, specifically if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.

Missouri voters in the Kansas City city were the most ardent fans of the sports betting wagering tally procedure, which might underscore homeowners' interest in putting bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

Missouri's sports wagering lineup doubts ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks could alter too in the occurring years.