Kansas Approves 6 Sportsbooks to Take Bets Starting September 1
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Dániel Sallói (Sporting KC)
The Kansas Lottery approved six operators to take online bets when the state's sports betting "soft launches" on Sept. 1.
Via partnerships with state casinos, half of the Kansas sports betting online market will start taking bets on NFL, college football and MLB next Thursday at 12 p.m. CT.
On Sept. 8, each must accept bets on sports beyond football and baseball, though they may do so before then if they're able, according to Cory Thune, a spokesperson for the Kansas Lottery.
So far no sportsbook has indicated they'll do so before the Sept. 8 "hard-launch," when others like BallyBet and FoxBet could join them.
Launching in Record Time
Kansas' launch — from bill-signage to first bets — will be one of the fastest of any state to legalize sports betting since the Supreme Court repealed PASPA.
The sports betting bill signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in May allows each of the state's four casinos to partner with up to three online sportsbooks each, setting Kansas up for as many as a dozen betting apps.
Room for More Sportsbooks
Kansas Crossing Casino is so far the only one to fill up all three slots — it has partnered with BetMGM, Caesars and PointsBet.
Hollywood Casino is Barstool's partner, the Kansas Star Casino is FanDuel's, and the Boot Hill Casino is DraftKings'.
Native American tribes can also update their gaming compacts to offer in-person and or online betting, though none have announced intentions to so far.
Casinos may also partner with up to 50 additional retail venues, including professional sports arenas, to install sports betting kiosks. The MLS’ Sporting Kansas City is the only pro team in Kansas.
Each operator will pay a 10% tax on gaming revenue, the bulk of which will be used to lure professional sports teams to Kansas. Tax revenue is projected at around $10 million a year.
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