Missouri sports wagerers have actually crossed into Kansas for nearly 3 years to put legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas homeowners might do the very same.
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Key takeaways
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- Kansas lawmakers halted new sportsbook license extensions till 2026, sports betting hinting at possible regulative changes that might affect its six legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to launch legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, possibly reversing cross-border wagering trends as Kansas bettors might head east.

- Future changes in Kansas might include a sole-operator design or tax hikes, affecting competition and motivating bettors to seek options in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background
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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 put legal bets in Kansas brings in 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 change if Kansas legislators upend the present regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some lawmakers wish to increase the state's sports betting tax income, among the most affordable per capita of any of the 30 states with statewide legal mobile sportsbooks.

Kansas' likely reconsideration of its six-book legal sports wagering market next year will follow Missouri goes live with as numerous as a lots books; if Kansas dramatically curtails its offerings, it might lead KS bettors to place bets in MO, the opposite of the present pattern

The modifications could be as easy as a . It could also result in a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are thinking about, one that could generate more direct earnings for the state but possibly displace some or all of the six existing sportsbooks when their licenses expire in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month only positions a prohibition until 2026, indicating Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets until their licenses end the following year. Lawmakers might not even think about a significant change to the regulative structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, meaning no perceptible impact for Sunflower State wagerers.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for sports betting dramatic modifications that didn't seem possible 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 betting legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when citizens narrowly approved a ballot step to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of unsuccessful efforts to legalize sports wagering in the legislature.

Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to start taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are also set to be almost twice as many wagering options in Missouri as Kansas.

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

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

Caesars, which opposed the tally step over license allotment issues, sports betting operates 3 Missouri gambling establishments and is eligible to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and sports betting Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri gambling establishments that give them instant market access.

Other books consisting of Acid rock, live in Illinois, sports betting might also pursue one of roughly two-dozen prospective Missouri sports betting licenses.

The wider variety of Show Me State wagering choices might attract Kansas gamblers in the Kansas City city location to Missouri to place bets, reversing years of wagerer traffic going the opposite instructions. This might accelerate if the Sunflower State cuts its sportsbook lineup, especially 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 supporters of the sports betting tally procedure, which could highlight locals' interest in placing bets in their home state when books go live.

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