Sports betting is now legal in Kansas. Here’s what you need to know.
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Sports betting in Kansas
Gambling on sports begins in Kansas on Sept. 1. Here’s what to know about how, when and where to place your bets.
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Kansans will soon be able to lawfully bet on sports after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill Thursday officially legalizing the practice.
The first wagers under the new law could be made as early as September depending on how quickly the state approves vendors.
Kelly said the bill, the product of four years of negotiations, would bring new revenue and businesses to Kansas. Notably, most of the funds will be set aside to recruit professional sports teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs, to the Sunflower State.
“Legalizing sports betting will bring more revenue to our state and grow our economy,” Kelly said in a statement. “This is another mechanism that casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues can now utilize to attract Kansans to their establishments.”
Under the bill, sports betting infrastructure in Kansas would be established before the end of the calendar year, in time for Kansans to bet on the Chiefs, or any other team, in National Football League playoffs.
“My constituents have pushed for this legislation for years, and now, the next time we have a significant sporting event in our state, Kansans will be able to bet on their hometown team,” Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, said.
The move positions Kansas to earn revenue off bets placed by Missouri residents who cross state lines to bet on the Chiefs this fall.
Efforts to legalize sports betting stalled in the Missouri General Assembly last month. Both states had been motivated by competition with their neighbor to finally approve the policy this year.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas complained on Twitter last month that the state would “once again, lose revenue and people to Kansas” if it lost the race on sports betting.
Andrew Storey, a former spokesperson for the Missouri Democratic Party, posted to Twitter that he would be spending more time watching sports with his Grandma in Overland Park.
“My grandma appreciates your hard work #KsLeg,” he wrote.
Here’s what you need to know:
Where will I be able to place bets?
Under the sports betting bill, Kansas Lottery can authorize sports wagering through existing lottery gaming facility managers— the four casinos Kansas contracts with— and through sports wagering platforms.
Lottery gaming facility managers could use up to three interactive sports wagering platforms to facilitate the practice, including established sports betting apps like Draft Kings.
Kansas will allow sports betting to take place on online platforms, within casinos, and inside designated areas at sporting arenas— such as Children’s Mercy Park and the Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County.
When will I be able to bet?
Gaming facility managers must gain state approval for sports wagering platforms.
The bill legalizing sports wagering instructs the Kansas Lottery to have a submission process available by September 1 and take no more than 30 days reviewing applications.
Under this timeline, the a sports betting platform could go live in Kansas anytime in September or Oct. 1 at the latest if the state takes the full 30 day review period.
Can I place a bet from Missouri?
Kansans using online platforms to place bets must be inside the state when they make the bet.
Bettors will not be able to use the online services if they cross state lines into Missouri, where efforts to legalize the practice stalled in the Missouri General Assembly this year. Missourians who cross into Kansas, however, will be able to place bets.
Where will the proceeds go?
The first $750,000 in revenue Kansas earns from sports betting will go to a fund earmarked for investigation of white collar crimes related to illegal activity related to gambling.
After that, 80% of the remaining dollars will be placed in a newly created “attracting professional sports to Kansas fund.”
The fund, which would be controlled by the Kansas Secretary of Commerce, would be used “for the benefit of any professional sports team.” Kansas lawmakers have said the fund was created so the state could offer additional incentives to encourage the Kansas City Chiefs to move from Missouri to Kansas.
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM.
