Mark Donovan & Mike Raffensperger
Kansas City Chiefs President & FanDuel President of Sports
The Economic Club of Kansas City hosts Chiefs President, Mark Donovan and FanDuel President of Sports, Mike Raffensperger in December 2025 when online mobile apps and retail sportsbooks are scheduled to go live for the first time in Missouri. Gaming companies say sports wagering will increase fan engagement and introduce new revenue streams for teams and the state. The Chiefs and FanDuel explain how the economics of sports betting will change the landscape of stadiums, games and why legalizing it in Missouri is different than in many states.
We think it's a monumental moment for sports fans.
Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel / President of Sports
Speakers Mark Donovan & Mike Raffensperger
Kansas City Chiefs President & FanDuel President of Sports
Kansas City Chiefs President, Mark Donovan
Mark Donovan, now in his 17th season with the Chiefs and 27th in the NFL, has led the NFL team as President since 2011, overseeing all business operations. Under his leadership, the Chiefs have secured three Super Bowl Championships, hosted the 2023 NFL Draft, and will host six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. Donovan has expanded the Chiefs' brand, making them the top NFL fanbase on TikTok and YouTube and has generated nearly $1 billion annually for the KC region. In 2025, he is also spearheading discussions about the team's stadium future. Donovan is a former Brown University quarterback. He was named KC’s Sports Executive of the Year in 2021.
President of Sports, Mike Raffensperger
FanDuel Group's President of Sports, Mike Raffensperger, oversees the company’s sports division including sports betting, daily fantasy sports, retail, free-to-play, FanDuel TV, FanDuel Canada, and New Ventures. He is responsible for the firm's strategy in legal online gaming. FanDuel Group currently holds a 40% market share. Before FanDuel, Mike was Head of Marketing for Amazon Advertising and Director of Digital Marketing & Strategy for DIRECTV. Mike graduated in mass media from Messiah College and is a standing fellow with Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He is a passionate New York Giants fan.
Moderator Steven St. John
810 WHB Sports Radio Host
For more than 25 years, Steven St. John has been entertaining morning drive time radio listeners across seven states in the Midwest. The 810 WHB radio host is one of the most recognizable and dependable Kansas City based hosts to hit the sports airwaves. One minute he’s conducting in-depth, thought-provoking interviews with national sports figures; the next, he’s spontaneously bantering with co-hosts, his signature laugh filling the airwaves. St. John is a former Kansas City Golden Gloves boxer. He graduated from UMKC and grew up in Kansas City’s Northeast neighborhood.
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