Kansas sportsbooks to launch in September, ahead of NFL Season

It has been confirmed that bettors in Kansas, United States will be able to participate during the entirety of the 2022 NFL regular season now that sports betting will go live in the state on September 1 and mobile wagering will start a week later.

“Legalizing sports betting is a common-sense solution that keeps Kansans’ money in Kansas and drives business to sporting events, casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I want to thank all our partners for working with us to get this done in time for football season.”

On Friday, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission passed more than a hundred regulations, bringing the state one step closer to introducing online sports betting after years of deliberation and anticipation.

Two months after the legalization of sports betting took effect on July 1, bettors will finally be able to place their first wagers at any of the four casinos operated by the state beginning on September 1.

Bettors in the state of Kansas will be permitted to place bets at retail sportsbooks, allowing them to place bets on the college football games taking place that weekend if they so want. Prairie Band Casino & Resort, which is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming, and Hollywood, which is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming are the three commercial casinos that can be found in Kansas. While the Golden Eagle is a tribal casino venue.

Each casino that has been contracted to provide gaming services will each provide wagering on sports through a variety of distinct independent platforms.

“This announcement represents a lot of hard work and collaboration between the Kansas Lottery, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, our casino and tribal partners, the process to bring this to fruition has moved at an unbelievable pace,” Stephen Durrell, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery, said. “We are excited to be bringing sports betting to Kansas players and adding more fun and exciting play options to the Sunflower State.”

Based on the applicant’s history of successful operation in other states, a provisional license valid for one year will be issued. The platforms that have been awarded contracts will be revealed very shortly. Within the confines of the state of Kansas, residents will be permitted to utilize any of the platforms that have been approved by the state.

In May, Governor Kelly gave her signature to Senate Bill 84, a piece of legislation that legalizes gambling on sporting events in the state of Kansas on mobile apps, in casinos, and certain other places. The passage of Senate Bill 84 made it possible for establishments like restaurants and nonprofit fraternal or veteran organizations to host sports betting events. SB 84 protects tribal sovereignty while opening the door to the negotiation of new or existing gaming compacts that address sports betting.

In the past, there was speculation that Kansas could utilize the revenue from sports betting to entice the National Football League’s Chiefs to relocate from their current home in neighbouring Missouri. However, the governor stated not too long ago that this is not likely to occur. The projections imply that Kansas may generate an additional one million to five million dollars in revenue from sports betting, which is not even close to enough to attract a professional sports club. Kelly has stated that neither she nor anybody on her staff has communicated with the ownership of the Chiefs regarding the possibility of a move.

Kansas, Massachusetts, and Maine are the only states to have passed legislation legalizing sports betting to this point in 2022. This comes during a period on the regulatory front that has been relatively quiet.

Although, Kansas is the only one of those three that is about to go online, and it is probable that this is expected to run up until the year 2022 ends.

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