Legal sports betting now available on both sides of KC metro ahead of World Cup
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - World Cup fans heading to Kansas City for the first time will also be able to legally bet on games.
Sports betting is legal in both states. Kansas legalized sports betting in September 2022. Missouri’s legal sports betting options began more recently.
Sports Betting Alliance says legal sportsbooks must follow state requirements that protect bettors, including age verification, secure handling of personal and financial data and responsible gaming tools such as time and deposit limits, plus access to problem gambling resources.
Licensed sportsbooks in Kansas and Missouri said they are prepared for new and visiting bettors during the World Cup, while warning that illegal, offshore betting sites may also target fans.
Legal sportsbooks work with regulators and law enforcement to monitor for suspicious betting activity and help protect the integrity of matches.
Below explains the difference between illegal and legal betting:
| Illegal betting | Legal, regulated sports betting |
|---|---|
| Often allows anyone to bet, regardless of age. | Requires identity and age verification to prevent underage betting. |
| May refuse to pay out winnings bets, with little recourse for customers. | Must pay out winning bets and follow state rule. Customers can file complaints with regulators. |
| Can put personal and financial data at risk through unsecure processing. | Uses secure payment processing overseen by state gaming regulators. |
| No meaningful responsible gaming protections or resources. | Must offer responsible gaming tools. (limits, monitoring) and provide access to problem gambling resources. |
| Does not work with teams/leagues to protect game integrity. | Required to report suspicious activity and work with leagues/law enforcement to identify unusual patterns. |
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