Kansas is home to a few collegiate sports teams, which means that there are likely some sports fans looking to put some money down on their favorite team. Kansas is actually one of the only states that are pretty open when it comes to gambling. Though sports betting isn’t technically legal, many gambling types are permitted. It’s not illegal to bet online.
Kansas Sports Betting News
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Sports Betting Timeline in Kansas Can I bet on sports in Kansas? Kansas Casinos Betting on Kansas Sports Teams Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in KansasIf you look at Kansas betting laws, you have casino gambling, tribal gambling, horse racing, dog racing, social and charitable gambling, and the lottery, all legalized and regulated. When it comes to online gambling and daily fantasy sports betting, there is kind of a gray area where it’s not really mentioned in any law, so it’s technically not illegal.
We predict that Kansas will jump on board with the legalization of sports betting – they’re such a progressive state when it comes to gambling, and they will want to ensure the state is seeing the revenue streams coming in – like other states who have already legalized, injecting millions of dollars into their economies.
Kansas Sports Betting Legislation
They currently have both a Senate and a House bill in committee and will hopefully pass one by the end of 2020 if the Coronavirus pandemic allows them to reconvene.
2021 Update
In 2021, as of May, a bill has been passed in state law and cleared by the Connecticut Senate. This moves the state closer to legalizing sports betting and online wagering after years of debate and failed negotiations.
Senate Bill Details
The Senate bill gives sports betting exclusivity to state-owned casinos, which are also able to offer an online betting app for Kansas residents to use.
House Bill Details
The House bill authorizes the Kansas Lottery to operate and regulate sports betting within the state and allows for a contract of up to 1,200 retailers. The bill offers a much higher tax rate (14-20% versus the Senate’s 5-8%), which would generate more revenue for the state.
Flexibility
The measure also offers more flexibility in terms of requesting sports be restricted - as many states have issues with betting on in-state collegiate programs and betting on eSports where there can be minors competing.
Kansas Gambling Landscape
Kansas is home to both tribal and commercial casinos and could be home to future sportsbook locations if the Senate bill is eventually legalized. The unique laws in Kansas also include Poker, which is banned in many states, so it’s definitely a breath of fresh air that Kansas is modernizing its laws to include the popular table game.
A Brief Timeline of the Legality of Kansas Sports Betting
- November 3, 2023 - PENN's ESPN Bet will replace Barstool Sportsbook, launching on Nov. 14 in 17 states including Kansas.
- September 5, 2023 - After the initial sale of PointsBet's US assets to Fanatics, the company has rebranded as 'PointsBet, a Fanatics experience' in Kansas and seven other states
- August 2, 2023 - The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation secured federal approval to offer sports betting at Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta, Kansas.
- July 4, 2023 - FanDuel and DraftKings are jointly commanding nearly 70% of the Kansas sports betting handle in May. DraftKings held a slight edge over FanDuel, with a lead of approximately $12 million.
- May 4, 2023 - The total amount of money wagered on sports in Kansas rose to $206.2 million in March, marking a 6% uptick from the previous month.
Sports Betting Timeline in Kansas
Sports betting advocates have been trying without avail to regulate and legalize sports betting in Kansas. Although there are no local sportsbooks, bettors in Kansas can sign in to offshore sportsbooks.
2018-2019: Opening Up and First Attempts
With the opening up of the possibility in 2018 for different states to legalize sports betting, Kansas was eligible for the new market. Immediately, the state held three hearings and considered letting the Kansas State Lottery conduct its own sports betting. While they showed lots of interest, they were not able to pass any bills in 2018.
2019 seemed promising at first. The Kansas Constitution is very clear that the State must run any gambling operations. Casino companies were heavily against the Kansas State Lottery running the sports betting operations, so they never got off the ground.
2020-2021: Some Movement, but No Passing
There were renewed attempts in 2020 to pass sports betting. This time, the private industry was more involved in the construction of the bill. It passed the Kansas House without much problem. However, the Senate and Governor Laura Kelley showed more opposition.
The coronavirus pandemic cut short debates about how to reconcile everyone's visions of the bill, which ended the legislative session almost a month earlier than scheduled.
In 2021, the Kansas Senate passed a sports betting bill. Once again, the governor has expressed opposition to the bill as passed. Only time will tell if they reconcile and get something passed before too long.
Can I bet on sports in Kansas?
You can, just not at any particular location within the state.
As mentioned, online gambling is technically legal so that you can sign up for an online sportsbook and lay some money down safely and securely. Online sportsbooks can be daunting to new bettors, but some of the top sportsbooks, like Bovada or BetOnline, are totally secure to wager at.
| Sportsbook | Available In Kansas |
|---|---|
| FanDuel | ✅ |
| DraftKings | ✅ |
| Caesars | ✅ |
| FoxBet | ❌ |
| BetRivers | ✅ |
| BetMGM | ✅ |
| PointsBet | ✅ |
| UniBet | ✅ |
Kansas Casinos
If the Senate bill passes and sports betting licenses are available to state-run casinos, the following nine casinos could be potential sportsbook sites in the near future.
- Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is a commercial casino located in Kansas City.
- Kansas Star Casino Hotel Event Center is a commercial casino located in Mulvane.
- Prairie Band Casino & Resort is a Native American tribal casino located in Mayetta.
- Boot Hill Casino & Resort is a commercial casino located in Dodge City.
- Sac & Fox Casino is a Native American tribal casino located in Powhattan.
- Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel is a commercial casino located in Pittsburg.
- Golden Eagle Casino is a Native American tribal casino located in Horton.
- 7th Street Casino is a Native American tribal casino located in Kansas City.
- Casino White Cloud is a Native American tribal casino located in White Cloud.
Betting on Kansas Sports Teams
Many believe that Kansas City, KS is the same as the home of the Super Bowl champions. The Kansas City Chiefs are actually based in Kansas City, Missouri. There are no professional sports teams in the state of Kansas.
The Kansas Jayhawks likely are the state’s favorite sports team. The college basketball team has been a staple in the NCAA’s March Madness tournament every year for the past 30 years. While they have been knocked out early a handful of times, they have a national title to brag about.
Other collegiate programs in the state are the Kansas State Wildcats and the Pittsburg State Gorillas.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in Kansas
If you’re looking to bet on sports in Kansas, we’ve established that you need to sign up for an online sportsbook. We wanted to take some of the research work out for you because you really need to research because each sportsbook has different rules, policies, and options.
Our team has developed specific criteria that we feel are important: deposit options, mobile-friendliness, bonuses, cashout options, and odds selection. We assess each book and have picked a list of a few of the top sportsbooks in the United States. Check out the reviews and pick the right sportsbook for your needs.
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