Missouri Bill Seeks to Bar Kansas City Chiefs From Operating a Sportsbook After Planned Stadium Move

The intersection of sports, gambling and state politics is back in the spotlight in Missouri. Senator Nick Schroer has pre-filed a resolution that would effectively remove the Kansas City Chiefs from the list of professional teams eligible to operate a sportsbook within the state, a move tied directly to the franchise’s decision to leave Missouri for Kansas.

Filed on December 31, Senate Joint Resolution 109 proposes a constitutional amendment that would alter the language governing which entities are authorized to conduct sports wagering. While the measure still requires approval from both legislative chambers, it would ultimately be decided by Missouri voters, potentially during the November 2026 general election or at a special election convened specifically for the issue.

Redefining Eligibility for Sportsbook Operations

Under current law, professional sports teams that are members of major leagues, including the NFL, are among the entities permitted to operate sportsbooks. Schroer’s proposal would repeal that provision and replace it with language limiting eligibility to entities operating “at any location within each sports district, as approved by each applicable professional sports team that plays its home games in such sports district.”

The revised wording is widely viewed as a direct response to the Chiefs’ planned relocation, which would result in the team no longer hosting home games in Missouri and, as a consequence, losing its eligibility to run a sportsbook under the proposed framework.

Limited Path Forward via Third Parties

Although the resolution would bar the Chiefs from directly operating a sportsbook in Missouri, it does leave open a potential workaround. The filing allows professional teams to designate a sports wagering operator to act on their behalf, shifting licensing and regulatory responsibility to that third party.

“If a professional sports team designates a sports wagering operator to operate on its behalf, then that sports wagering operator, rather than the professional sports team, shall submit to the Commission for licensure and shall be considered the licensee for all aspects of Commission oversight and regulatory control,” the resolution states.

Chiefs’ Move to Kansas Drives Debate

The legislative push follows the Chiefs’ December 22 announcement confirming long-standing plans to develop a new stadium, training complex and mixed-use entertainment district in Kansas. The move would see the franchise leave Arrowhead Stadium and begin playing home games across the state line starting with the 2031 NFL season.

As Missouri continues to debate the scope and structure of its sports betting framework, the proposed amendment highlights how team relocations can have ripple effects across regulatory and commercial gaming policy—placing the future of sportsbook operations squarely in the hands of voters.