Missouri sports bettors have crossed into Kansas for almost three years to place legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas homeowners might do the exact same.
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Key takeaways
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- Kansas legislators stopped brand-new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, hinting at possible regulatory modifications that might affect its six legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to introduce legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, potentially reversing cross-border wagering trends as Kansas bettors might head east.
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- Future modifications in Kansas might include a sole-operator model or tax walkings, impacting competition and motivating gamblers to seek alternatives in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting wagering 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 ability to place legal bets in Kansas draws in bettors on the Missouri side of the Kansas City city area to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.

That might change if Kansas lawmakers overthrow the current regulatory structure. Sources tell Covers some lawmakers want to increase the state's sports betting wagering tax income, amongst the least expensive 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 cope with as many as a dozen books; if Kansas significantly reduces its offerings, it might lead KS wagerers to position bets in MO, the opposite of the existing pattern

The changes could be as basic as a tax increase. It might also result in a sole-source operator design some legislators are thinking about, one that could generate more direct income for the state however possibly displace some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks once their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed previously this month just places a prohibition up until 2026, meaning Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses end the list below year. Lawmakers may not even consider a dramatic change to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, meaning no noticeable impact for Sunflower State bettors.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for significant changes that didn't appear practical 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 voters narrowly authorized a ballot step to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of unsuccessful efforts to legalize sports betting 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 twice as numerous wagering alternatives in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the ballot measure. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have, as anticipated, revealed plans to take bets in Missouri when certified.

Other books consisting of BetMGM, BetRivers and sports betting Underdog also revealed launch plans. Bet365 struck a handle MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and likewise plans to accept bets in the state.

Caesars, which opposed the ballot measure over license allocation 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) also operate Missouri gambling establishments that approve them immediate market gain access to.

Other Hard Rock, live in Illinois, might also pursue one of approximately two-dozen possible Missouri sports betting wagering licenses.

The broader variety of Show Me State wagering options might draw in Kansas gamblers in the Kansas City metro area to Missouri to position bets, reversing years of gambler traffic going the opposite direction. This could speed up if the Sunflower State cuts its sportsbook roster, especially if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
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Missouri voters in the Kansas City metro were the most ardent advocates of the sports wagering ballot procedure, which could underscore residents' interest in placing bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

Missouri's sports wagering lineup is unpredictable ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks might alter too in the taking place years.
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