Kansas Reports Record-Setting Sports Betting Handle in November

The Sunflower has become the latest to smash a sports betting record.

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) has reported a sports betting handle of $291 million in November. The impressive number was 5.5% higher than the month before and 11.5% year-over-year. Online sports betting dominated the market, accounting for $279 million in wagers.

DraftKings dominated the market during November, reporting over $128 million in wagers. That put them far ahead of second-place FanDuel, which finished with $86.5 million. 

ESPN Bet had a strong month at a tough time for the operator. They reported a handle of $12.3 million for online wagers. The operator also had success in the retail market, with their four casino locations totaling over $12 million in wagers.

According to the KRGC, most wagers were generated from NFL betting. The state has a prominent Kansas City Chiefs fanbase despite the team being located in Missouri. The Chiefs are a favorite to make Super Bowl LIX and have lost just once this season.

Will Missouri Sports Betting Slow Market Down?

As impressive as the sports betting market has been in Kansas, things could cool down in 2025. Neighboring Missouri voted to legalize sports betting in the November election. While there is no firm date, the Show-Me State hopes to have the market up and running this summer.

Missouri’s narrow approval of sports betting could be bad news for Kansas. The state had seen Missouri residents crossing the border to place their wagers. Many Chiefs fans have been driving to Kansas to support their team, helping fuel the market’s impressive numbers. 

There is also a danger of some Kansas bettors placing wagers in Missouri. The details about what sports betting will look like in Missouri are scarce, but we know bettors will see premier welcome bonuses. Operators spend a lot of money on promotions when launching a new market, which could lure some Kansas bettors to make the trip.