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Missouri sports gamblers have actually crossed into Kansas for almost 3 years to place legal sports bets. Three years from now, Kansas locals might do the exact same.
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Key takeaways

- Kansas legislators stopped new sportsbook license extensions up until 2026, meaning possible that might impact its six legal operators after 2027.

- Missouri is set to release legal mobile sportsbooks in late 2025, possibly reversing cross-border betting patterns as Kansas gamblers may head east.

- Future changes in Kansas could include a sole-operator model or tax hikes, impacting competition and motivating bettors to seek alternatives in Missouri.
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Kansas sports betting background

Kansas launched its first legal mobile sportsbooks in 2022. Six books now take bets: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics and FanDuel.
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The ability to put legal bets in Kansas draws in gamblers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City city location to Kansas to wager, with some doing so most or almost every day of the week.

That might alter if Kansas lawmakers overthrow the current regulative structure. Sources tell Covers some legislators desire to increase the state's sports wagering tax earnings, among the most affordable 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 follow Missouri goes deal with as numerous as a lots books; if Kansas dramatically cuts its offerings, it might lead KS bettors to position bets in MO, the reverse of the existing pattern

The alterations could be as easy as a tax increase. It could also result in a sole-source operator design some lawmakers are considering, one that could produce more direct earnings for the state however potentially require out some or all of the six existing sportsbooks when their licenses end in Aug. 2027.

The legislation passed earlier this month only puts a restriction up until 2026, sports betting indicating Kansas' current sportsbooks can take bets up until their licenses end the following year. Lawmakers might not even consider a significant modification to the regulatory structure when they reconvene for the 2026 session, indicating no noticeable effect for Sunflower State bettors.

But the license extension restriction leaves the possibility for dramatic modifications that didn't seem feasible weeks earlier.

Missouri sportsbooks prepare to introduce
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The Kansas relocation 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 directly authorized a ballot procedure to bring legal retail and online sportsbooks to the state. The vote followed years of failed efforts to legalize sports betting 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 nearly two times as numerous wagering choices in Missouri as Kansas.

FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $30 million to support the ballot step. The 2 U.S. market share leaders have, sports betting as expected, revealed strategies to take bets in Missouri when certified.

Other books including BetMGM, BetRivers and Underdog likewise revealed launch strategies. Bet365 struck a deal with MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and also plans to accept bets in the state.

Caesars, which opposed the ballot procedure over license allocation issues, runs three Missouri gambling establishments and is qualified to introduce its online book in the state. Penn Entertainment (ESPN BET) and Bally's (Bally Bet) also run Missouri casinos that approve them immediate market access.

Other books including Hard Rock, reside in Illinois, might likewise pursue one of approximately two-dozen prospective Missouri sports betting licenses.
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The wider variety of Show Me State betting options could attract Kansas wagerers in the Kansas City metro area to Missouri to place bets, reversing years of gambler traffic going the opposite instructions. This could accelerate if the Sunflower State reduces its sportsbook roster, 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 underscore residents' interest in putting bets in their home state as soon as books go live.

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