Missouri sports betting bettors have crossed into Kansas for almost three years to put legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas homeowners might do the exact same.

Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators stopped new sportsbook license extensions till 2026, hinting at possible regulative modifications that might affect its 6 legal operators after 2027.

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

- Future modifications in Kansas could include a sole-operator model or tax hikes, sports betting affecting competitors and motivating gamblers to look for alternatives in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background

Kansas released its 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 draws in wagerers 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 might change if Kansas legislators upend the current regulative structure. Sources tell Covers some lawmakers want to increase the state's sports betting wagering tax income, among 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 live with as lots of as a lots books; if Kansas dramatically cuts its offerings, it might lead KS gamblers to put bets in MO, the opposite of the current pattern

The changes might be as simple as a tax boost. It might also lead to a sole-source operator design some legislators are considering, one that might generate more direct earnings for the state however potentially dislodge some or all of the six existing sportsbooks once their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

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

But the license extension prohibition leaves the possibility for remarkable modifications that didn't appear practical weeks earlier.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to launch

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

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

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to start taking bets in the 4th quarter of 2025. There are also set to be nearly twice as numerous betting alternatives in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the ballot procedure. The two U.S. market share leaders have actually, as expected, revealed strategies to take bets in Missouri as soon as licensed.

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

Caesars, which opposed the tally procedure over license allocation issues, runs three Missouri casinos and is eligible to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise operate Missouri gambling establishments that approve them instant market gain access to.

Other books including Acid rock, live in Illinois, could also pursue among roughly two-dozen potential Missouri sports betting wagering licenses.

The broader variety of Show Me State wagering 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 fans of the sports betting tally procedure, which might underscore citizens' interest in positioning 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 change too in the occurring years.