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

Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators halted brand-new sportsbook license extensions until 2026, meaning possible regulatory changes that might affect its 6 legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to release legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, sports betting possibly reversing cross-border betting trends as Kansas wagerers may head east.
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- Future changes in Kansas might include a sole-operator design or tax hikes, impacting competitors and encouraging wagerers to seek options in Missouri.

Kansas sports wagering background

Kansas introduced its first legal mobile sportsbooks in 2022. Six books now take bets: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, sports betting ESPN BET, Fanatics and FanDuel.
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The ability to position legal bets in Kansas draws in bettors on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro location to Kansas to bet, with some doing so most or sports betting nearly every day of the week.

That could alter if Kansas lawmakers upend the present regulative structure. Sources inform Covers some legislators wish to increase the state's sports betting tax revenue, 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 betting market next year will come after Missouri goes live with as lots of as a dozen books; if Kansas drastically curtails its offerings, it might lead KS bettors to put bets in MO, the reverse of the existing pattern
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The changes might be as easy as a tax boost. It could likewise result in a sole-source operator model some lawmakers are thinking about, one that could produce more direct revenue for the state but potentially force out some or sports betting all of the 6 existing sportsbooks once their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed previously this month only positions a restriction up until 2026, meaning Kansas' existing sportsbooks can take bets till their licenses expire the list below year. Lawmakers might not even consider a remarkable change to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, meaning no perceptible effect for Sunflower State gamblers.
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But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for significant modifications that didn't appear feasible 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 betting wagering legalization push ended in Nov. 2024, when citizens narrowly authorized a tally step to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of failed efforts to legislate sports betting in the legislature.
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Missouri's legal sportsbooks are set to start taking bets in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are also set to be almost two times as numerous betting alternatives 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 actually, as expected, revealed strategies to take bets in Missouri once certified.
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Other books consisting of BetMGM, sports betting BetRivers and sports betting Underdog likewise revealed launch plans. Bet365 struck an offer with MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and also prepares to accept bets in the state.

Caesars, which opposed the tally measure over license allocation issues, runs three Missouri gambling establishments and is eligible to launch its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) likewise operate Missouri casinos that approve them immediate market gain access to.

Other books including Hard Rock, reside in Illinois, sports betting might also pursue among roughly two-dozen potential Missouri sports wagering licenses.

The broader selection of Show Me State betting options could 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 might accelerate if the Sunflower State curtails its sportsbook lineup, especially if DraftKings and/or FanDuel can no longer accept bets.
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Missouri citizens in the Kansas City metro were the most ardent fans of the sports wagering tally step, which might highlight homeowners' interest in positioning bets in their home state once books go live.

Missouri's sports betting lineup doubts ahead of the 2025 launch. could change too in the taking place years.