It is looking more and more like legal sports betting in Kansas will be ready by the 2022 NFL season. Granted, this has been the goal all along. But the timeline was still somewhat up in the air ever since governor Laura Kelly signed Kansas legal sports betting into law. It wasn't quite clear whether the licensing process would be wrapped up quickly enough. Now, however, we've received word that at least three sportsbooks in Kansas will be licensed and ready to go in time for the 2022 NFL season.
There is no overstating the impact this will have on the state's economy when comparing it to sports betting rollouts across other states. But which sportsbooks will be fully operational in Kansas? And are they the only sportsbooks at which residents can bet on the NFL and other sports? Is there a chance even more sports betting operators are up and running in time for the start of the 2022 football season?
A momentous announcement such as this requires a deep dive into the details and further clarification. And we have cobbled together all the information you need right here!
Which Sportsbooks in Kansas will be Ready for 2022 NFL Season?
There are reportedly going to be 12 sportsbooks in Kansas that will be awarded online licenses when all's said and done. But in the interest of having online sports betting in Kansas up and running later this summer, in August, they have given priority to mainstays in the industry that won't need any special help setting up their infrastructures and online or retail presences.
To that end, here are the three sportsbooks in Kansas that have been given the go-ahead to set up their operations as quickly as possible, beginning July 1:
- BetMGM Sportsbook: BetMGM plans to launch in late August, towards the end of the NFL's preseason, but in time for the start of the 2022 regular season.
- FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel currently remains unsure whether they'll have operations up in time for the NFL preseason. They are, however, projected to be full steam ahead by Week 1 of the NFL regular season
- DraftKings Sportsbook: Though DraftKings has not released a concrete date for when they'll be accessible to Kansas sports bettors, they are expected to be accepting registrations and bets in time for the NFL's regular-season opener.
It comes as no surprise that the three most prevalent online sportsbooks in North America are the first to be approved and operational in Kansas. However, it should be reiterated, these will not be the only online sportsbooks in Kansas. This is more like a starter pack, and it was designed to ensure Kansas could have sports betting available to start the NFL season.
Whether even more online operators will be licensed and operational prior to the 2022 NFL season remains to be seen. Kansas also has to focus on the brick-and-mortar sportsbooks that will be looking to open up their services by next month, as well. That might limit their ability to approve and roll out other online odds providers. With that said, governor Laura Kelly has not ruled out anything, so there's a strong chance Kansas continues churning out legal online sportsbooks in the coming weeks.
What About Kansas Casinos?
For the most part, Kansas has been devoting most of their time and resources to the online side of sports betting. This shouldn't come as a real shock. Online and mobile sports betting in the United States accounts for the majority of sports gambling revenue these days.
Fueled in part by the coronavirus pandemic that took the U.S and world by storm entering 2020, but also due to the increasing remote availability of other services, many find it more convenient to place wagers on mobile betting apps and desktop websites rather than travel to a retail sportsbook. And that makes sense. Never mind that we live in an increasingly digital age. Many sports bettors simply don't live near physical casinos with sportsbooks; they'd have to travel hours, if not even longer, every time they want to place a wager.
Still, Kansas isn't letting casino sporsbooks fall by the wayside. Every casino in Kansas that's under control of the state lottery will be permitted to set up a retail sports betting lounge. This ruling impacts four casinos, and all of them are attempting to have their on-site sportsbooks ready in time for the 2022 NFL season. In fact, Kansas fully expects that all eligible casinos will have their sports betting lounges up and running by Week 1.
Alternatives to Sportsbooks in Kansas
Kansas is making the right call by having sports betting in the fold for the start of the NFL season. It is a decision that, on its own, could be worth tens of millions of dollars.
At the same time, most sportsbooks in Kansas are still weeks away from opening their doors and online registrations. That limits your ability to bet on NFL futures prior to the start of the season, when the odds are at their most lucrative.
Fortunately, you needn't worry about missing out on any divine opportunities. Our reviews of the top online sportsbooks include more than a handful of websites that will let you register for an account and begin placing bets today.
Regardless of how you bet in Kansas, though, the most important thing is you will now be doing so legally.
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your sports betting needs:
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