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

Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions up until 2026, meaning possible regulative modifications that could affect its 6 legal operators after 2027.

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

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

Kansas released 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 attracts 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 present regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators want to increase the state's sports betting tax income, among the least expensive per capita of any of the 30 states with statewide legal mobile sportsbooks.
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Kansas' likely reconsideration of its six-book legal sports betting wagering market next year will follow Missouri goes live with as lots of as a lots books; if Kansas significantly curtails its offerings, it could lead KS wagerers to place bets in MO, the reverse of the current pattern
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The alterations could be as simple as a tax increase. It might also lead to a sole-source operator model some legislators are considering, one that could generate more direct earnings for the state however possibly require out some or all of the six existing sportsbooks as soon as their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.
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The legislation passed previously this month just positions a restriction up until 2026, meaning Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses expire the list below year. Lawmakers might not even consider a dramatic change to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, indicating no perceptible effect for Sunflower State wagerers.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for dramatic changes that didn't appear possible weeks ago.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to launch

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

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

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to begin taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are also set to be almost two times as lots of wagering alternatives in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the tally measure. The 2 U.S. leaders have, as expected, announced plans to take bets in Missouri when certified.

Other books consisting of BetMGM, BetRivers and sports betting Underdog likewise announced launch strategies. Bet365 struck an offer with MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and likewise prepares to accept bets in the state.

Caesars, which opposed the ballot measure over license allotment issues, operates three Missouri casinos and is qualified to release its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri casinos that approve them immediate market access.

Other books consisting of Acid rock, reside in Illinois, might likewise pursue one of roughly two-dozen potential Missouri sports betting licenses.

The broader array of Show Me State wagering alternatives could attract Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City metro location to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of bettor traffic going the opposite instructions. This could accelerate if the Sunflower State reduces its sportsbook lineup, specifically if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
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Missouri citizens in the Kansas City city were the most ardent supporters of the sports wagering ballot step, which could underscore citizens' interest in positioning bets in their home state once books go live.

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