Missouri sports bettors have crossed into Kansas for nearly 3 years to put legal sports betting bets. Three years from now, Kansas homeowners might do the same.

Key takeaways

- Kansas lawmakers stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions till 2026, hinting at possible regulatory modifications that might impact its 6 legal operators after 2027.

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

- Future changes in Kansas could include a sole-operator design or tax walkings, sports betting affecting competitors and motivating bettors to look for alternatives in Missouri.

Kansas sports wagering 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 position legal bets in Kansas attracts wagerers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro area to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.

That could alter if Kansas legislators overthrow the current regulatory structure. Sources tell Covers some lawmakers desire to increase the state's sports betting wagering tax earnings, amongst 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 wagering market next year will follow Missouri goes live with as many as a lots books; if Kansas drastically cuts its offerings, it could lead KS gamblers to position bets in MO, the opposite of the existing pattern

The modifications could be as easy as a tax boost. It might likewise lead to a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are thinking about, one that might generate more direct profits for the state but potentially displace some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks when their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed previously this month just puts a restriction till 2026, indicating Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets up until their licenses end the following year. Lawmakers might not even think about a dramatic change to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for sports betting the 2026 session, indicating no noticeable effect for Sunflower State bettors.

But the license extension prohibition leaves the possibility for dramatic changes that didn't seem feasible weeks back.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to release

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

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

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to start taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are likewise set to be nearly two times as lots of betting choices in Missouri as Kansas.

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

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

Caesars, which opposed the tally step over license allotment issues, operates 3 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 give them immediate market gain access to.

Other books including Acid rock, reside in Illinois, might likewise pursue among roughly two-dozen prospective Missouri sports wagering licenses.

The larger selection of Show Me State wagering choices could draw in Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City city area to Missouri to place bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite direction. This could speed up if the Sunflower State curtails its sportsbook lineup, especially if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.

Missouri citizens in the Kansas City metro were the most ardent supporters of the sports betting ballot procedure, which could underscore locals' interest in positioning bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

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