Report: Kansas Governor to Sign Sports Betting Bill

• According to a report from KSNT in Topeka, Gov. Laura Kelly will sign bill to legalize Kansas sports betting
• The bill legalizes retail and online sports betting in the state
• Each of the state’s four casinos will be allowed to partner with up to three online sports betting operators

Kansas sports betting fans can breathe easy.

According to a report from KSNT in Topeka, Gov. Laura Kelly will sign a bill to legalize retail and online sports betting in the state. This comes nearly two weeks after the Senate and House sent the bill to her desk for approval.

Rumors ran wild after Kelly waited several weeks to make her decision. If Kelly did not sign the bill by May 16 the legislative bodies would not have been able to legalize sports betting until next year’s session.

When she finally signs the bill into law, Kansas will be the 35th state to legalize sports betting. It’s the hope that sports betting will be able to launch sometime in the fall during the early moments of the NFL season.

Kansas Sports Betting Details

The bill will legalize online and retail sports betting for the four state casinos and allow each of them to partner with up to three online sports betting operators. In addition to state casinos, Kansas Native American Tribes will have the opportunity to amend their gaming compacts to allow for retail or online sports betting at their facilities.

Casinos will also be able to partner with up to 50 additional locations, including professional sports franchises, to install sports betting kiosks. Currently, the only professional franchise in the state is MLS Sporting Kansas City, but lawmakers are hoping this bill can help lure other teams to relocate to Kansas.

A 10% sports betting tax for both retail and online sports betting will be levied. The law is expected to bring in nearly $10 million annually in taxes, of which 80% will be earmarked to lure professional sports franchises to relocate to the state.

The bill states that sports betting will be allowed as soon as it’s deemed feasible, but permanent sports betting rules and regulations must be approved by Jan. 1, 2023. The state is expected to launch sports betting in late 2022 or early 2023.

Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission Oversees Betting

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission will oversee sports betting in the state. The bill will allow for sports betting on professional events, collegiate events, motor race events, and any special athletic event deemed appropriate by the racing and gaming commission. Dog racing will not be included in the bill, a point the House had hoped to include in the document but something the Senate insisted on keeping out.

Historical horse racing machines (a maximum of 1,000) will be allowed in a single facility in Sedgwick County.

Free play and promotional moneys will be tax exempt for sportsbooks as well.