Good News for Kansas Sports Betting Just Dropped

Kansas sports betting regulators and operators just received some fantastic news from the folks over at BetMGM: The recent rise of prediction markets in the United States apparently has very little impact on sports betting activity.

This revelation comes amid industry-wide upheaval that spans so many corners of sports betting in the United States. Companies who offer prediction markets—otherwise known as event-based contracts—have found a loophole that, for now, allows them to provide services in basically every state. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Kansas sports betting market, which allows retail and mobile wagering already. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Wisconsin sports betting market, which currently only has retail gambling. Nor does it matter if it’s the state of Texas, which has no legal form of sports betting, but does not contest the presence of daily fantasy sites or prediction markets.

Sportsbooks in the United States that hold actual licenses naturally aren’t thrilled by the development. Some have taken to offering prediction markets themselves, to capitalize on the development. Others like BetMGM, however, have so far abstained.

Frustration is shared by regulators across the country. Those who oversee sports betting in The Sunflower State are likely among them. Prediction-market operators are not, as of now, subject to the same regulation. They do not pay the same tax rate as sportsbooks in Kansas. And they most definitely did not go through the same approval process to operate within The Sunflower State—or any region, for that matter.

This has left many wondering whether prediction markets could be a massive disruptor for the industry. That may wind up being in the case in states without legal sports betting. Prediction markets are an adjacent alternative in those instances. But as for sports betting in Kansas, as well as other places with legal wagering in place? It turns out they may have little, if nothing, to worry about.

Prediction Markets Apparently Are Not Disrupting Sports Betting in the United States

Here is what BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt recently said on prediction markets, with further analysis from Legal Sports Report’s Matthew Waters:

“All it takes is a look at state gambling reports to see that sports predictions are not hurting the regulated sports betting market just yet. ‘Just follow the data,’ Greenblatt said. ‘If you look at handle trends through the summer and into the [NFL] season, you’ll see that there’s been really no decay, no degradation of year-on-year handle growth in [online sports betting] which, frankly, if I think the prediction markets were having an impact we would have seen.

“‘So the data says there isn’t an impact at the industry level and, frankly, just to supplement that, if you look at search trends for leading prediction market operators, you’ll see a growing percentage coming from states where the licensed sports betting industry is not operating. So certainly from our regulated [total addressable market] we’re not seeing any effect at this point.’”

The Kansas sports betting market lends merit to this hypothesis. They are so far reporting six months’ worth of betting-volume data for 2025. In each case, they have seen year-over-year growth for every month relative to 2024.

Overall on the year, the Kansas sports betting market has accepted $1.4 billion worth of wagers. That is up from around $1.2 billion through the same time period in 2024.

Sure, a 16 to 17 percent increase may not seem like much. But when you’re talking about nine figures’ worth of action, it is absolutely a huge bump. More than that, it shows that the rise in prediction markets may be overstated.

Here’s Why Kansas Sports Betting May Be Insulated Against Prediction Markets

Though Greenblatt point-blank said BetMGM would consider monitoring prediction markets in the event an industry shift is on the way, the Kansas sports betting market may remain among those that aren’t ever impacted.

At present, The Sunflower State’s sports betting model allows all types of wagering. People who live in Kansas can bet on sports at physical sportsbooks or by using mobile sports betting sites and apps.

Prediction markets do not offer enough of an upgrade from this all-encompassing model. Customers essentially use an app to “purchase shares in a yes-or-no sports outcome.” There is no real benefit to people already signed up with a Kansas online sportsbook. If anything, the bonuses and promotions at online sportsbooks are going to be more appealing than prediction-market operators. Since licensed sportsbooks on sanctioned gambling companies, they can offer more financial benefits to customers on the side.

The same cannot be said for the Wisconsin sports betting market. Residents in The Badger State only have the option of using sports betting apps when they are on tribal property. They must still be near a casino to place a wager. For them, the convenience of a prediction market is going to carry more weight.

Of course, the potential benefits are largest in states without any type of sports betting. Short of crossing state lines or flocking to offshore betting sites, people from these may view prediction markets as their only alternative. That’s especially true if they are in a state which has taken action against daily fantasy sites.

None of this applies to the Kansas sports betting market, though, They have online options, and services have been live since before prediction markets became mainstream. That combination may ensure the industry in The Sunflower State is protected against any wider-spread shifts due to event contracts.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: