Published on: January 8, 2026, 08:32h.
Updated on: January 8, 2026, 08:32h.
- New Missouri legislation aims to deny NFL teams sports betting rights.
- Chiefs unveil $4 billion stadium projects in Kansas, set to leave Arrowhead post-2030.
- Legislators deem this move a betrayal; additional proposals may impose financial penalties..
A new bill presented in the Missouri legislature seeks to prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from enjoying the state’s sports betting privileges. This may be interpreted as a political response to the team’s plan to relocate from Kansas City, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas.
In December, the Chiefs revealed their plans to construct a new domed stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas, indicating that they would vacate Arrowhead Stadium, their home for over 50 years, when their lease concludes after the 2030 season. Team owner Clark Hunt confirmed that this ambitious project would involve an investment of at least $4 billion in Kansas.
Impact on Sports Betting Rights
Currently, Missouri’s sports betting legislation permits the state’s professional sports teams to collaborate with licensed operators for wagering, allowing teams to partake in betting revenue.
Although the Chiefs have marketing agreements with sportsbooks, they have not leveraged the team-affiliated betting rights granted under Missouri law.
A proposed constitutional amendment introduced by State Sen. Nick Schroer (R – St. Charles County) aims to maintain this status quo.
“Existing constitutional definitions state that a ‘professional sports team’ is a team based in this state that is a member of the [NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, WNBA, or the NWSL] for the purpose of conducting sports wagering in this state,” the document states. “If approved by voters, this constitutional amendment would exclude members of the [NFL] from this definition.”
This proposed amendment, pending voter approval, does not specifically name the Chiefs or reference their planned move. However, its implications are evident: it aims to exclude all NFL teams from Missouri’s sports betting regulations, affecting only the Chiefs as the state’s sole NFL representative.
Kansas also permits sports betting and has established laws enabling professional teams to partner with casinos to launch sportsbooks.
Growing Frustrations
The amendment is just one of several legislative responses to the Chiefs’ announcement. Another bill could hold the team responsible for covering a significant portion of the costs for demolishing Arrowhead Stadium after 2030, reflecting rising tensions within the legislature.
“I’m really upset about it. Both Democrats and Republicans have contacted me about their frustrations with the behind-the-scenes negotiations that took place,” remarked State Senator Rick Brattin (R – Cass County) in a statement to Fox 4 Kansas on Wednesday.
The division of Kansas City across state lines has led to extensive public tension over the years. Historically, both states have engaged in what local media referred to as a “border war,” offering tax incentives to attract businesses across the state line, sometimes only a short distance apart.
This ongoing issue prompted Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) to sign a truce agreement in 2019, committing to cease the use of incentives to lure companies from one another.