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

Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators halted new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, meaning possible regulatory modifications that could affect its six legal operators after 2027.

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

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

Kansas sports betting 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 draws in wagerers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro area to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or nearly every day of the week.

That might alter if Kansas lawmakers overthrow the current regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some lawmakers desire to increase the state's sports wagering tax income, 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 betting market next year will follow Missouri goes live with as numerous as a lots books; if Kansas drastically curtails its offerings, it could lead KS wagerers to put bets in MO, the reverse of the present pattern

The alterations might be as easy as a tax boost. It could likewise result in a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are considering, one that might create more direct revenue for the state however potentially require out some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks when their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month only positions a prohibition till 2026, suggesting Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets till their licenses expire the following year. Lawmakers might not even think about a dramatic change to the regulatory 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 modifications that didn't seem feasible 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 wagering legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when voters directly authorized a tally measure to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of failed efforts to legalize sports betting wagering 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 many betting alternatives in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the tally step. The two U.S. market share leaders have, as anticipated, announced strategies to take bets in Missouri when certified.

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

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

Other books including Hard Rock, reside in Illinois, could also pursue one of approximately two-dozen prospective Missouri sports betting licenses.

The broader selection of Show Me State betting options could attract Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City city area to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of gambler traffic going the opposite direction. This might speed up 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 metro were the most ardent fans of the sports betting wagering ballot step, which could highlight residents' interest in placing bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

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