Mahomes MVP bets skyrocket following Kansas sports betting legalization

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - An influx of new bettors in Kansas following the Sept. 1 legalization of sports betting in the Sunflower State has changed the betting market significantly in one area.

In the first week since Governor Laura Kelly placed the first bet in Kansas on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl -- doing so with a $15 bet “in honor of Patrick Mahomes” -- bettors have run to the sportsbooks to make MVP bets on the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback.

READ MORE: BetMGM becomes official partner of Chiefs

Prior to Sept. 1, 3.8 percent of money taken by BetMGM on NFL MVP bets was for Mahomes. With legalized sports betting in Kansas, an influx of bets raised that amount to 19.3 percent. That total is the most of any player in the sport, according to BetMGM data analyst John Ewing.

Last week 3.8% of money was on Patrick Mahomes to win NFL MVP at @BetMGM.

Now 19.3% of money (most) is on Mahomes.

Mahomes is +800 to win the award.
— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) September 7, 2022

Those in Missouri have even made attempts to get in on the action. GeoComply, the company handling security for all sportsbooks in Kansas, said they have blocked over 100,000 attempts to bet people located in Missouri.

Only Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+750) has better odds than Mahomes does at +800. Prior to the influx of bets, Mahomes’ odds had been at +1000, behind Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (+850) and tied with back-to-back MVP winner Aaron Rodgers.

When Mahomes won the MVP during the 2018 season, he entered the season as a longshot with +3300 odds.