Missouri sports betting gamblers have actually crossed into Kansas for almost three years to position legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas homeowners might do the exact same.

Key takeaways
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- Kansas lawmakers stopped new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, meaning possible regulative changes that could impact its 6 legal operators after 2027.

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

- Future changes in Kansas might consist of a sole-operator design or tax walkings, impacting competition and encouraging wagerers to look for options in Missouri.

Kansas sports betting background
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Kansas launched 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.
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That could alter if Kansas lawmakers upend the current regulatory structure. Sources inform Covers some lawmakers want to increase the state's sports betting wagering tax profits, amongst 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 come after Missouri goes deal with as numerous as a lots books; if Kansas considerably curtails its offerings, it might lead KS gamblers to put bets in MO, the opposite of the existing pattern
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The alterations could be as basic as a tax increase. It could also lead to a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are considering, one that might create more direct earnings for the state but possibly displace some or all of the 6 existing sportsbooks when their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month just positions a restriction up until 2026, suggesting Kansas' can take bets up 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, meaning no noticeable effect for Sunflower State gamblers.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for significant modifications that didn't seem practical weeks ago.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to launch

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 directly 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 4th quarter of 2025. There are likewise 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 ballot step. The two U.S. market share leaders have actually, as expected, revealed plans to take bets in Missouri when licensed.

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

Caesars, which opposed the tally procedure over license allowance concerns, operates three Missouri gambling establishments and is eligible to introduce 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 books consisting of Hard Rock, live in Illinois, could also pursue among roughly two-dozen possible Missouri sports betting wagering licenses.

The larger variety of Show Me State betting choices might bring 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 reduces 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 wagering tally step, which could highlight locals' interest in placing bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

Missouri's sports betting lineup is unpredictable ahead of the 2025 launch. Kansas' sportsbooks might change too in the ensuing years.