Kansas Governor: Retail and Online Sportsbooks Can Accept Wagers Sept 1

• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Issues Press Release Describing Sports Betting ‘Soft Launch’
• Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) Continuing its Regulatory Process
• KS Sports Betting in Commercial Casinos, Mobile Sportsbooks, and Local Businesses

No doubt Kansas gamblers have been staring at their calendars as day after day passes without legal sports betting launching there yet, but now Governor Laura Kelly has promised that Sept. 1 is when the state’s four casinos will begin taking legal mobile and retail sports wagers, saying:

Legalizing sports betting is a common-sense solution that keeps Kansans’ money in Kansas and drives business to sporting events, casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues. I want to thank all our partners for working with us to get this done in time for football season.

The NFL’s 2022 regular season will start on Thursday, September 8 with an exciting matchup between the Buffalo Bills (-2.5) and the Los Angeles Rams so that means that Kansas bettors will be able to put money on that game joining over 30 other states already enjoying that activity.

This so-called ‘soft launch period’ in Kansas will happen despite there still being “several regulatory and administrative hurdles” that Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell must get through as this state-owned legal sports gambling market heads closer to a full launch.

Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) Continuing its Regulatory Process

Part of the KS Lottery’s legal sports betting regulatory process is to propose regulations that will dictate how this new market will be run, but John Milburn, public information officer for the AG’s office, says they have identified “specific shortcomings” with some of those potential rules.

Milburn is confident all is fixable, saying this in a statement:

The Attorney General has approved three of those regulations and returned the others to the Kansas Lottery. We look forward to the Lottery quickly resolving these legal problems and resubmitting the regulations.

It’s all part of a slow process that every state with legal sports betting has endured, the reward being the multi-million dollar cash flow that this type of market can create, a taxable revenue stream that many states have earmarked for valuable programs that help residents in need.

Soon, the gamblers in Kansas will have plenty of ways to place their sports bets.

KS Sports Betting in Commercial Casinos, Mobile Sportsbooks, and Local Businesses

Part of what makes a legal sports betting market successful is ease of betting for the clientele, which means giving bettors plenty of options for action, and in Kansas that will include their four state run casinos, multiple mobile sportsbooks, and betting kiosks placed in local businesses.

The sportsbooks that will operate there are the regular players including Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at KS Speedway, Caesars Sportsbook at KS Crossing, DraftKings at Boot Hill Casino, and FanDuel at KS Star offering mobile and retail options.

Bally’s, BetMGM, FOX Bet, and PointsBet will be mobile only, a solid array of oddsmaker choices for Kansas bettors who will in effect be donating via that new tax revenue to a fund that will be used to attract pro sports teams to the state, a potentially lucrative venture for Kansas.

This is an ongoing story, so please do keep checking back for all the latest news and updates.