Kansas sports betting hits record $291 million in November, fueled by NFL wagers

Kansas reported a record-breaking $291 million in sports betting handle for November, marking the state’s highest monthly total since launching legal sports betting. The figure represents a 5.5% increase over October’s $275.9 million handle and an 11.5% jump from $260.9 million in November 2023, according to official data.  

The surge in activity coincided with the NFL season, particularly wagers on the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain among the favorites to win Super Bowl LIX. The Chiefs have won 12 of their 13 games this season, though their sole mid-November loss to the Buffalo Bills likely contributed to sportsbook revenue from bettors backing the team.  

Online operators accounted for $279 million, or 96% of the monthly handle, generating $24.6 million in revenue.  

• DraftKings led the pack with $128 million in wagers and $11.7 million in revenue.  
• FanDuel followed, reporting $86.5 million in handle and $8.9 million in revenue. 
• Other notable contributors included BetMGM ($26.2 million handle, $1.7 million revenue) and ESPN BET ($12.3 million handle, $786,023 revenue).  

Kansas’ four retail sportsbooks contributed $12 million in handle and $873,172 in revenue. ESPN BET at Hollywood Casino emerged as the top performer in this category, with a $9.1 million handle and $568,087 in revenue.  

November marks the third month of the 2024-25 NFL season, a particularly lucrative period for sports betting operators. Kansas has consistently reported betting surges each September since legalizing the activity.  

The record-setting handle aligns with the American Gaming Association’s projection that U.S. bettors will wager around $35 billion on NFL games this season. As Kansas looks to maintain its momentum, the state’s sportsbooks are poised to benefit from continued NFL action and the postseason excitement ahead.