Missouri sports betting gamblers have actually crossed into Kansas for almost 3 years to position legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas residents might do the same.

Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions up until 2026, hinting at possible regulatory modifications that could impact its six legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to introduce legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, sports betting potentially reversing cross-border betting patterns as Kansas wagerers might head east.

- Future modifications in Kansas might include a sole-operator model or tax walkings, sports betting impacting competition and sports betting motivating gamblers to seek options in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background

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

The ability to position legal bets in Kansas brings 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 could change if Kansas lawmakers upend the current regulatory structure. Sources tell Covers some lawmakers wish to increase the state's sports wagering tax profits, 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 market next year will come after Missouri goes live with as numerous as a dozen books; if Kansas dramatically curtails its offerings, it might lead KS wagerers to put bets in MO, the reverse of the current pattern

The modifications could be as simple as a tax boost. It could also result in a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are thinking about, one that might produce more direct revenue for the state but potentially require out some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks once their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month only puts a restriction until 2026, suggesting Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets till their licenses end the list below year. Lawmakers might not even consider a significant modification to the regulative structure when they reconvene for sports betting the 2026 session, indicating no noticeable impact for Sunflower State wagerers.

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

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to release

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

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

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to begin taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are likewise set to be almost twice as many betting alternatives in Missouri as Kansas.

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

Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog likewise revealed 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 step over license allotment concerns, operates three Missouri gambling establishments and is eligible to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri gambling establishments that approve them immediate market access.

Other books including Hard Rock, reside in Illinois, might also pursue among roughly two-dozen potential Missouri sports wagering licenses.

The wider variety of Show Me State betting options could draw in Kansas bettors in the Kansas City metro location to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite direction. This might speed up if the Sunflower State curtails its sportsbook lineup, particularly if DraftKings and/or sports betting FanDuel can no longer accept bets.

Missouri voters in the Kansas City metro were the most ardent fans of the sports betting wagering tally step, which could highlight locals' interest in putting bets in their home state once books go live.

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