The first Kansas online sportsbooks launched on September 1st, 2022, and are open to customers 21 or older. The Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission oversees sports betting in the Sunflower State to ensure operators comply with all consumer protection regulations and licensing requirements. As a result, Kansas bettors can visit any sportsbook listed in the state online safely and legally. Other legal online betting options in Kansas include pari-mutuel horse racing wagering and fantasy sports apps.
State of Kansas Sports Betting Overview
Kansas sports betting law allows licensed sportsbooks to serve customers physically located anywhere within state lines. Anyone 21 or older may participate in Kansas sports betting online unless they are: Anyone who has voluntarily self-excluded or been involuntarily excluded from sports wagering in Kansas, Casino and online sportsbook owners, employees, managers, directors, or same-household family members. Anyone with nonpublic, confidential information or who is pacing wagers as a proxy for someone else, anyone who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving sports wagering.
State of Kansas Sports Betting Timeline
2022: Following several sessions in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, the House inserts the language from a compromise bill, HB 2470, into SB 84, which passed the Senate in 2021.
The chambers agree, including the House’s addition of retail partnerships. The conference committee also agrees to a 10% tax on retail and online sports betting.
The House approves the deal before adjourning for a three-week veto break. The Senate does not advance the bill but takes it up when it returns. A 21-13 vote sealed the deal on April 29, sending SB 84 to the governor, who signed it into law on May 12. The law goes into effect on July 1. On Aug. 18, the state announces Sept. 1 as the date for a soft launch of sports betting. The full launch commences on Sept. 8 for the start of the NFL season. Six sports betting sites launched Sept. 1.
Two retail sportsbooks also received approval, while two others planned to launch soon after.
During the first day of Kansas sports betting, more than 16,000 Missourians attempt to bet at online Kansas sportsbooks, according to GeoComply data. Most of those, approximately 60%, were in Kansas City, Missouri.
The opening of the Kansas sports betting market helps mobile US sportsbook logins jump 71.5% year-over-year during the Week 1 NFL weekend. Kansas accounts for 3.5% of the 103.1 million logins tracked by GeoComply.
Kansas sportsbooks take $160 million in bets during their first month of sports betting in the state. FanDuel and DraftKings account for more than 70% of the handle.
2021: The Kansas Senate passed a bill in March 2021 that would expand the state lottery and allow each of the state’s four casinos to partner with three online sportsbooks.
The House votes against a substation for the Senate bill, 77-40. That vote effectively kills the chances of Kansas sports betting legalization in 2021. The House bill included a lottery sportsbook partner, allowing for up to 1,200 retailers to take sports bets on lottery-approved machines. The state’s casinos were also allowed one sportsbook partner for online betting.
Another hurdle for Kansas sports betting in 2021: Gov. Laura Kelly previously was against sports betting bills, but could be amendable to more money flowing through the lottery.
2020: The Kansas Senate embraces a more sportsbook-friendly path in 2020 and passes a bill to authorize sports betting at the four state-owned casinos with a tiered tax structure of 7.5% for in-person wagers and 10% for online wagers.
Dec. 19, 2023 — Kansas sports betting handle rose to $260.94 million in November, a new monthly high for the state. That total was a 4.4% increase from October and 40% year-over-year.
Nov. 15, 2023 — Kansas sports betting handle hit a new record high in October at $249.7 million. That total was up 31.5% year-over-year, breaking September’s record by $30.5 million.
Nov. 14, 2023 — ESPN Bet is now live in Kansas, taking over for Barstool Sportsbook.
Oct. 18, 2023 — PENN Entertainment announced that ESPN Bet will take over for Barstool Sportsbook and officially launch on Nov. 14. ESPN Bet will be live in 17 states, including Kansas.
Oct. 18, 2023 — Kansas sports betting handle jumped to $219.2 million in September, a 132% increase from August and a 37% from September 2022, the state’s first month of legal betting. Last month’s total was the highest ever for the state.
Sept. 27, 2023 — DraftKings reportedly offered a Taylor Swift-themed prop in Week 3 of the NFL season that involved Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Eagles running back D’Andre Swift.
Sept. 8, 2023 — The Kansas City Chiefs are one of nine NFL teams partnered with Game Sense and BetMGM to do in-stadium responsible gambling promotion during the season.