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

Key takeaways

- Kansas lawmakers stopped new sportsbook license extensions till 2026, hinting at possible regulative changes that might impact its six legal operators after 2027.

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

- Future modifications in Kansas might consist of a sole-operator design or tax hikes, affecting competition and encouraging bettors to look for options in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background

Kansas launched its 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 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 alter if Kansas lawmakers overthrow the existing regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators wish to increase the state's sports wagering tax revenue, 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 betting market next year will follow Missouri goes deal with as lots of as a lots books; if Kansas considerably reduces its offerings, it might lead KS bettors to put bets in MO, the reverse of the current pattern

The changes might be as basic as a tax increase. It could also result in a sole-source operator design some legislators are considering, one that could produce more direct revenue for the state but possibly force out some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks when their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed previously this month only positions a prohibition until 2026, meaning Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses end the list below year. Lawmakers may not even think about a significant change to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, suggesting no perceptible effect for Sunflower State wagerers.

But the license extension prohibition leaves the possibility for significant changes that didn't appear feasible weeks earlier.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to launch

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 approved a ballot procedure 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 also set to be almost twice as lots of betting alternatives 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 actually, as expected, announced strategies to take bets in Missouri when licensed.

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

Caesars, which opposed the ballot step over license allocation concerns, operates three Missouri gambling establishments and is qualified to release its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise run Missouri gambling establishments that approve them immediate market access.

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

The broader variety of Show Me State wagering choices could draw in Kansas bettors in the Kansas City city location to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite direction. This might accelerate if the Sunflower State cuts its sportsbook roster, specifically if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.

Missouri citizens in the Kansas City city were the most ardent supporters of the sports betting ballot procedure, which might underscore residents' interest in putting bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

Missouri's sports betting lineup is uncertain ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks could alter too in the taking place years.