Missouri sports gamblers have crossed into Kansas for almost 3 years to put legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas citizens might do the very same.
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Key takeaways

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

- Missouri is set to launch legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, sports betting potentially reversing cross-border as Kansas bettors may head east.

- Future modifications in Kansas could include a sole-operator design or tax walkings, impacting competitors and motivating wagerers to look for 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 place legal bets in Kansas brings in gamblers 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 legislators upend the existing regulatory structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators desire to increase the state's sports wagering tax profits, amongst the most affordable per capita of any of the 30 states with statewide legal mobile sportsbooks.
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Kansas' most likely reconsideration of its six-book legal sports betting wagering market next year will come after Missouri goes live with as many as a dozen books; if Kansas dramatically curtails its offerings, it could lead KS bettors to position bets in MO, the reverse of the current pattern

The alterations might be as simple as a tax increase. It might likewise result in a sole-source operator model some legislators are thinking about, one that could create more direct income for the state however possibly force out some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks as soon as their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.
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The legislation passed previously this month just places a prohibition up until 2026, suggesting Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses expire the following year. Lawmakers might not even consider a dramatic change to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, implying no perceptible impact for sports betting Sunflower State wagerers.

But the license extension prohibition leaves the possibility for remarkable changes that didn't appear practical weeks ago.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to introduce

The Kansas move 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 tally 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 start taking bets in the 4th quarter of 2025. There are also set to be almost twice as many betting options in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the tally measure. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have, as expected, revealed strategies to take bets in Missouri once certified.

Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog likewise revealed launch plans. 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 3 Missouri casinos and is qualified to introduce its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise run Missouri gambling establishments that grant them instant market access.
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Other books including Acid rock, reside in Illinois, could likewise pursue one of roughly two-dozen prospective Missouri sports betting licenses.
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The wider array of Show Me State wagering choices might bring in Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City city area to Missouri to put bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite instructions. This could accelerate if the Sunflower State reduces its sportsbook lineup, sports betting particularly if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
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Missouri voters in the Kansas City city were the most ardent fans of the sports betting wagering tally measure, which could highlight locals' interest in positioning bets in their home state once books go live.

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