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Kansas Sharp is your definitive resource for everything gaming in Kansas. Kansas Sharp will keep all sports fans in Kanas up-to-date on the legalization and launch of online sports betting in Kansas.

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When Will Kansas Launch Online Sports Betting?

Kansas became the second state in 2022 to approve sports betting after Governor Laura Kelly signed the legislation into law on May 12, effective July 1. Senate Bill 84 also allows state casinos to use digital platforms and create sportsbooks and allows venues such as restaurants and nonprofit fraternal or veterans organizations to hold sports wagering.

History Of Gambling And Sports Betting In Kansas

Kansas has a state history that indicates sports betting will come to residents sooner rather than later. For instance, charitable and social gambling was legalized in the 1970s, and pari-mutuel wagering for horse and greyhound racing was legalized in 1986.

That was the same year as Kansas’ first legal state lottery. Casinos came to Kansas in 2007 thanks to the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act. It also allowed racetracks to install electronic gambling machines and provided for the construction of four new casinos in distinct so-called “gaming zones.”

The four casinos are currently open and are some of the few in America that are not run by Native American tribes. Instead, they’re operated by private companies. Kansas also has five tribal casinos that have been open earlier than the privately-owned counterparts described above.

Daily fantasy sports came next in 2015, although operators like DraftKings and FanDuel have been operating beforehand anyway.

Sports betting legalization has been on the back burner for some time. But after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, Kansas legislators worked to come up with bills that would satisfy all interested parties in the state.

The Kansas Senate passed a bill in 2020 that would theoretically allow the four commercial casinos to allow sports betting both in online and in-person formats. However, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed discussions and forced the Kansas Legislature to end its session early.

Fortunately, Kansas legislators jumped back on the ball quickly and reintroduced Senate Bill 84 on January 27, 2021. In April 2022, the Kansas State Senate approved the final version of the conference report to Senate Bill 84, legalizing sports betting, and Governor Laura Kelly signed it into law on May 12, 2022.

Kansas Sports Betting: What To Watch

The current outlook for Kansas sports betting is bright. 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 the NFL playoffs.

Timeline Of Kansas’s Gambling History

  • 1987 – Kansas’ state lottery is launched, and pari-mutuel horse and greyhound race wagering is legalized
  • 2007 – The Kansas Expanded Lottery Act is passed, which allows the construction of four privately owned casinos
  • 2015 – Daily fantasy sports is legalized in Kansas
  • 2020 – State legislators introduce sports betting bills to the Kansas House and Senate. COVID-19 delays proceedings
  • Jan 27, 2021 – SB 84 and HB 2199 are reintroduced to the Kansas House and Senate
  • May 12, 2022 – SB 84 is signed into law.

Kansas Sportsbooks – Coming Soon

Fortunately for Kansas residents, it’s likely that sports betting will come sooner rather than later. Furthermore, several operators already have operations within the state by offering daily fantasy sports. Let’s take a look at some of the most likely operators to apply for state licensure by partnering with one of the state’s four legal casinos.

DraftKings

DraftKings already offers daily fantasy sports in Kansas, so we’d be surprised if it did not pursue licensure and partnership with one of the casinos. The app for DFS is linked to the sportsbook app, so launching a mobile sportsbook operation would likely be trivial for this operator.

Players would benefit as well since DraftKings is one of the most well-known and popular sports betting platforms in the country. It offers a robust and well-developed mobile app with all the major and advanced features you would expect, such as live streaming, in-play betting, and deep betting markets for most major American and foreign professional sports.

But DraftKings is also popular due to mobile-only betting pools, which make it one of the best sportsbook apps to use on your iPhone or Android device. 

FanDuel

FanDuel is another popular competitor in the sportsbook industry. It also offers daily fantasy sports in Kansas already. But it’s even more well-positioned to launch in Kansas ASAP since it’s partnered with Boyd Gaming: the current owner and operator of the Kansas Star Casino. Therefore, it’s likely that FanDuel will acquire licensure faster than any other operator.

It offers a very welcoming new player bonus worth up to $1000 in site credit, plus an excellent mobile app experience that includes live streaming and deep betting markets. Regular promotions and opportunities to place wagers on sports ranging from baseball to cricket or rugby make FanDuel a popular pick for both new and better in sports bettors.

BetRivers

BetRivers is a rapidly growing sportsbook that offers both in-play and live betting through its streamlined mobile interface. In fact, BetRivers provides a mobile app designed explicitly for mobile users rather than being a port of an existing desktop app. Live streaming is included as well so you can take full advantage of the in-play betting function.

Additional bonuses include a dedicated menu bar for easy navigation, player-friendly odds for the underdog and favorite teams, and good betting markets for a wide range of American professional sports, like baseball, boxing, basketball, and tennis.

BetMGM

BetMGM might pursue licensure in Kansas as it has with many other states. It offers a slightly more limited sports betting experience, without very deep international betting markets.

But it does have a lag-free and intuitive interface that makes its app experience one of the best-reviewed in the industry, as well as live streaming. It also comes with a good loyalty program for those who use the app regularly, as well as a top-screen scroll that shows major betting markets and popular betting choices for new players.

Caesars

Caesars is a great mobile app if you want to place wagers on European and international sports, like soccer, cricket, and ready. You’ll be able to find deep and varied betting markets and competitive odds.

Other Sports Betting Apps Likely To Launch In Kansas

Kansas Sports Betting FAQs

Is it legal to gamble at casinos in Kansas?

Yes. The state currently has four privately owned casinos and several tribal casinos, each of which allows retail casino gambling.

How old do I have to be to gamble at casinos in Kansas?

Kansas requires you to be 21 years of age or older to gamble at casinos, as do all other states.

Is sports betting online legal in Kansas?

Not yet. But the sports betting legislation was signed into law in May 2022, effective July 1.

Is it safe to gamble at casinos in Kansas?

Yes. There is no online gambling at the time of this writing, so any casino gambling is done at a retail location without the possibility of identity theft.

Can I play the lottery online in Kansas?

No. Kansas only allows you to play the lottery by purchasing a ticket at a retail location.

Do I have to pay taxes if I win?

Yes. Any Kansas sports betting legislation will include rules about taxable winnings. These should describe a flat tax rate depending on whether you place your wager at a casino or using a mobile app.