Online Sports Betting in Kansas

After several failed attempts to pass sports betting legislation in recent years, Kansas passed SB 84 in May 2022, legalizing both retail and online sports betting.

However, sports betting is not yet available in the state because regulators are still determining the best way to implement retail and online sports betting.

Here’s everything you need to know about online sports betting in Kansas, including when it will launch, who can bet, and more.

Recent News and Details About Sports Betting in Kansas

• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law on May 12, 2022, that will legalize sports betting in the state. While wagering isn’t available yet, residents will be able to bet on sports in the near future.
• Kansas’ sports betting legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2022. However, the official launch of sports betting in the state will depend on how quickly regulators set up the sports betting ecosystem.
• Kansas regulators are now working to get online and retail sports betting up and running by fall, as this would allow them to generate revenue from the upcoming NFL season.
• SB 84 received approval from the Kansas House and Senate in April 2022. This bill legalizes both mobile and retail sports betting through Kansas’ four casinos.
• Once online sports betting launches, each of Kansas’ four casinos will be able to partner with up to three online operators, allowing for a total of 12 online sportsbooks.
• The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and Kansas Lottery will be the two regulatory bodies responsible for setting up and overseeing sports betting in the state.
• Kansas’ sports betting legislation calls for a 10% tax on both mobile and retail sports betting.

Online Sports Betting in Kansas: A Timeline

Kansas lawmakers have made several attempts to pass sports betting legislation over the past several years before finally succeeding in 2022. Here’s a timeline of the events leading to the legalization of sports betting in Kansas:

• May 16, 2022: Boot Hill Casino announces it will partner with DraftKings and Bally Bet to offer online sports betting. It will also host a DraftKings retail sportsbook in Dodge City.
• May 12, 2022: Kansas Gov. Kelly signs a bill legalizing sports betting, which will go into effect on July 1. Regulators will have to work to set up the sports betting ecosystem in the coming months.
• April 29, 2022: The Kansas Senate votes 21-13 to pass SB 84 in a late-night session. This bill legalizes retail and online sports betting in the state.
• April 1, 2022: A conference committee comes to an agreement on SB 84, and the bill passes the House. However, the Senate did not vote on the bill before adjourning. This means the bill will not be able to pass until at least April 25 when the Senate meets again.
• March 30, 2022: The Kansas House amends SB 84 to include a new proposal. The House and Senate will need to agree on a final version of SB 84 before passing it and sending it to the governor for signing.
• March 18, 2022: Kansas lawmakers send SB 84 to the House committee to work on the bill in an effort to get the Senate to pass it. Legislators still hope to pass sports betting legalization in 2022.
• March 2021: The Kansas Senate votes 26-12 in favor of passing a bill that would expand the state lottery and allow the state’s casinos to partner with up to three online operators for sports betting. However, the House voted 77-40 against a substation for the bill, effectively killing the possibility of sports betting being legalized in 2021.
• 2020: The Kansas Senate passes a bill that legalizes sports betting at the state’s four casinos, but the House bill is very different. Due to COVID-19 cutting the legislative session three weeks short, the House and Senate don’t have time to iron out the differences between their two bills.
• 2019: Legislators begin working on sports betting legislation; however, it doesn’t get off the ground as lawmakers can’t agree on who would run sports betting in the state.

How Do Kansas Residents Feel About Sports Betting?

There is not much information available regarding how Kansas residents feel about legalizing sports betting in the state. SB 84, which legalizes mobile and retail sports betting in Kansas, passed through both the Kansas House and Senate before being signed by Gov. Kelly. This bill did not require residents to vote for it to pass, making it difficult to determine how voters feel about it. However, as legislators have been working for several years to pass sports betting legislation, it’s likely they feel confident their constituents would support this legislation.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Apps Legal in Kansas?

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps allow players to use their sports knowledge to create fictional teams and compete with other users in daily contests for cash and other prizes. While some states have legalized these apps because they consider them games of skill, others ban them under their gambling laws.

In Kansas, DFS apps have been legal and available since 2015 when former Gov. Sam Brownback signed HB 2155 into law. Residents can enter DFS contests by registering with an authorized provider such as DraftKings.

Kansas Sports Betting FAQs

Editor’s Note: Information accurate as of June 2022.

Neighboring States That Legalized Sports Betting

Of the four states that border Kansas, Colorado is the only one that has legalized and launched sports betting. Colorado residents have access to more than two dozen mobile sportsbooks, with more likely to come in the future since state law allows for each of Colorado’s 30-plus casinos to offer online sports betting via authorized sportsbooks.

Nebraska passed a bill in 2021 that legalized in-person sports betting; however, the state has yet to implement sports betting in any way as legislators continue to work to determine the best way to set up a sports betting ecosystem.