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Last Updated Jun 20, 2022, 04:48 PM ET
There’s no clear answer as to whether legal online sports wagering will ultimately lure the Kansas City Chiefs back to the state, but it is a certainty that Kansas sports bettors will finally have access to the best sportsbooks in the U.S. — like FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and BetMGM — and the lucrative welcome bonuses of more than $1,000 that accompany them.
Governor Laura Kelly gave the final approval necessary to legalize online Kansas sports betting on May 12, 2022, meaning bettors will be able to register and place wagers with their mobile devices anywhere in the Sunflower State once the law takes effect on July 1, 2022.
Covers has been a sports betting industry expert for 26 years and will parlay that experience to supply you with a list of the top sports betting sites in Kansas as soon as they become available.
Yes. Gov. Kelly, a known proponent of sports betting, signed Senate Bill 84 into law on May 12, 2022. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2022, and requires operators to launch on or prior to Jan. 1, 2023.
On April 29, 2022, the state Senate voted 21-13 to approve SB 84, which the House had already ratified via a 73-49 vote on April 28, 2022. The bill allows legal sports betting through the state’s four commercial casinos, each of which will be able to host on-site wagering and partner with up to three online sportsbooks.
Check out our U.S. tracker to discover states with legal sports betting and the latest updates on those who have yet to legalize.
Spurred by its competition with neighboring Missouri, which has yet to legalize sports betting and houses the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the Sunflower State has taken the step to allow bettors to finally wager on sports. A total of 80% of that revenue is to be siphoned into an “Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund.” Concerns over gambling addiction and the disruption caused by COVID-19 long delayed the passage of legislation, but with Gov. Kelly signing off, all that's left is to wait.
Here are some critical dates in Kansas’ sports betting history:
June 20, 2022: Gov. Kelly ceremoniously signs SB 84. Kelly also downplays the likelihood that Kansas sports betting would generate enough revenue to lure the Kansas City Chiefs out of Missouri.
June 15, 2022: The Kansas Lottery and Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission are already working on regulations and contracts with stakeholders ahead of July 1, 2022 — when legal sports betting goes into effect.
May 12, 2022: Gov. Kelly signs SB 84 into law, legalizing sports betting in Kansas. The law will take effect on July 1, 2022, with operators likely to go live soon after.
May 11, 2022: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is making preparations to sign the sports betting bill, saying, “I think some time this week…so stay tuned.”
April 29, 2022: The state Senate approves the Kansas sports betting bill (SB 84) with a 21-13 vote, sending the legislation to the desk of Gov. Kelly. By all accounts, the governor is expected to sign and officially bring legal sports betting to the Sunflower State.
April 28, 2022: The House overwhelmingly advances SB 84 with a 73-49 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must be approved before reaching the governor for a final go-ahead.
April 3, 2022: After passing through the House, 63-50, a new wrinkle in Kansas' sports betting bill (SB 84) causes the legislation to stall in the Senate. The last-minute provision would have 80% of revenue earned through sports betting go towards a fund meant to attract professional sports franchises to the state.
March 30, 2022: Senate Bill 84 is amended by lawmakers to include the contents of HB 2740, keeping legal sports betting dreams alive. The move helps push the bill through the House via an 88-36 vote and sends it forward to a joint committee, which will attempt to make the bill agreeable to both chambers of the legislature.
March 16, 2022: The House introduces HB 2740, a bill similar to SB 84 which includes some additional pieces of language. Under this legislation, Kansas' four commercial casinos could operate retail and online sports betting with up to three mobile partners each.
March 30, 2021: The state's House Committee of the Whole votes against SB 84, 77-40, effectively bringing the forward momentum for legal sports betting to a halt.
March 3, 2021: The Kansas Senate approves SB 84, 26-12, sending it along to the House for further consideration.
Jan. 26, 2021: The state Senate introduces SB 84, legislation that would bring about legal sports betting in Kansas if eventually ratified into law.
May 14, 2018: The Supreme Court repeals the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This allows all states to begin fabricating their own sports betting regulations.
For now, it’s not possible to legally bet on sports in Kansas. When sports betting does become available following July 1, 2022, the legal age to wager on sports will be 21, the same as most other states. Additionally, bettors will be able to sign up and register online anywhere within state lines.
Legal ageKansas sports betting will only be allowed for bettors 21 and up.
Mobile bettingStipulations within Senate Bill 84 note that each of Kansas’ four commercial casinos will be allowed to partner with up to three sportsbook operators. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission will regulate all forms of sports betting, including online and mobile.
Remote registrationKansas will put remote registration into practice once online sports wagering is fully underway after July 1, 2022. This means bettors will be able to sign up, make deposits, and place wagers from anywhere in the state.
Within state bordersAs soon as Kansas online sports betting arrives in earnest, it will only be accessible to those physically within state borders. Any sportsbook operator that garners a Kansas sports betting license will have to use geofencing technology to confirm the identities and whereabouts of their customers.
Retail sportsbooksThere are four state-run commercial casinos in Kansas that will be allowed to take sports wagers on their properties: Boot Hill Casino & Resort, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas Crossing Casino Hotel, and Kansas Star Casino Hotel Event Center. Additionally, the new law allots for sports betting at as many as 50 other brick-and-mortar locations.
Taxable winningsA tax rate of 10% will be applied to all sports betting revenue in Kansas. Additionally, a federal tax of 24% is tacked onto gambling winnings in the U.S.
Now that Kansas has legalized sports betting, not only has it beaten rival neighbor Missouri to the punch — the Show-Me State’s own sports betting legislation recently stalled on its Senate floor — but it will finally be able to establish a market that, presumably, keeps revenue from trickling over state lines to other established markets. Until operators begin to go live in the state, however, Kansans eager to get an early start on legal sports wagering can find solace in Colorado sports betting, which permits both mobile and retail betting and is home to 27 active operators, the most of any U.S. state.
Thanks to its competition with Missouri acting as a driving force, Kansas legalized sports betting in 2022 and joined the ever-growing number of legitimate markets in the U.S. Although Colorado has long had an established market, the remainder of Kansas’ neighbors — Missouri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska — have yet to pass sports betting legislation into law.
While it’s impossible to say exactly what the landscape will look like until it’s officially taken shape, the outline is promising.
No legal sports betting options right nowNo specific timeline for when operators will go liveGambling addiction concerns remain prominent among numerous Kansas lawmakersOnce it arrives, mobile and online sports betting will allow Kansas bettors to confirm wagers from anywhere within state lines. Some Sunflower State residents may also find themselves with nearby access to retail sportsbooks.
Those interested in Kansas sports betting should get familiar with the options available to them in the Sunflower State. Every region has various regulations and sportsbook operators, so it’s valuable to pinpoint a sportsbook with bonuses, odds, and banking methods that suit personal needs.
Once legal Kansas sports gambling officially arrives, bettors will be able to make an online sportsbook account at once. Doing so is relatively easy but can be made simpler by ensuring all relevant identification and funding information is nearby.
When a sportsbook goes live in a new location, it will offer different types of promotions and sign-up bonuses. Some of the most common sportsbook sign-up bonuses include risk-free bets, deposit matches, and no deposit bonuses. Make sure to always read the terms and conditions associated with any incentive.
Most operators make it extremely simple to deposit funds. Once sports betting is legalized in Kansas, there will be a multitude of sportsbook deposit and withdrawals methods, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, direct bank transfers, and more.
Until operators officially begin to go live, it’s unclear what specific types of bets will be available for Kansas sports bettors. However, it makes sense to expect the traditional options: Moneyline, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, futures, prop bets, and parlays.
Following account registration, adding funds, and grabbing a bonus, it’s time to start betting. Ensure you are well acquainted with your chosen sportsbook and its terms and conditions before placing a wager.
Kansas’ online sportsbooks may have different processes when it comes to withdrawals. Research your options before adding funds to an account, as it can be bothersome to win wagers and be unable to withdraw money promptly.
When Kansas sports betting officially arrives, sportsbooks will default to American odds. These are the moneyline odds most typically provided at legal U.S. sportsbooks. American odds reveal the favorite with a minus sign (ex. -200) and the underdog with a plus sign (ex. +150).
The odds for the favorite are shown as how much a player will have to wager to win $100. Conversely, the odds on the underdog are shown to display how much a player will win from a $100 wager.
For example, a $200 wager on a -200 favorite will pay $100 plus the original bet. Meanwhile, a $100 wager on a +150 underdog will pay $150 on top of the initial wager.
Visit our odds converter if you prefer to view odds as decimals or fractions. There, you can see odds displayed in American, decimal, and fractional formats.
Presently, it is not legal to wager on sports in Kansas. Once that changes, most popular professional sports leagues will become available for betting. However, there will still be other events that are off-limits.
Kansas will not permit betting on politics. No states allow regulated sportsbooks to offer these types of bets.
Esports betting continues to gain popularity throughout the U.S. but is only found in a few regions. Kansas does not allow sportsbooks to offer esports betting at this time.
Kansas bettors may have the opportunity to wager on events like the Oscars or Emmys. At the moment, this is unclear.
Kansas will permit betting on college sports. Bettors will even be able to place wagers on in-state games.
Kansas has a considerable lack of professional sports teams. That’s why lawmakers have put such an emphasis on allocating 80% of the state’s eventual sports betting revenue into a fund meant to help draw professional sports franchises to the area, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who presently reside in Missouri.
The Sunflower State does have a solid collegiate presence, though, and legal sports betting rules will permit sports bettors to wager on in-state games.
Whether looking to wager on pro sports or college athletics, bettors should do plenty of research before placing any bets. Our how to bet guides are wonderful resources to help get newbies started.
While Kansas sports bettors will have to wait a bit longer to begin wagering legally, the state provides a few other gambling options. Players will find slots and table games at any of Kansas’ land-based casinos, while tickets for the state lottery can be picked up from numerous licensed retailers.
CasinoKansas is home to four state-owned commercial casinos and six tribal-run casinos. Gamblers will be met with a host of table games, slots, and poker variants at any establishment they visit.
PokerBoth live and online poker are prohibited in Kansas. Poker players can visit Colorado to play live poker games in a casino.
Horse racingThere are no active racetracks in Kansas, but betting on horse racing is legal. Interested parties will need to log on to an online horse racing betting site — such as TVG or TwinSpires — or visit a retail location where they can participate in pari-mutuel wagering.
Daily fantasy sportsDaily fantasy sports (DFS) have been legal in Kansas since 2015, when then-Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill that brought platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel to the Sunflower State.
The list of states that have adopted legal sports betting is only getting longer. Kansas joins the following locales now that it has put legal event wagering measures in place:
Looking to do what Kansas just managed, there are still many states moving toward legal sports betting. These are the ones which may potentially generate their markets relatively soon:
Legal Kansas sports betting is coming to the Sunflower State, but the practice remains prohibited for now. Although the wait may make it tempting to register with an offshore website, we strongly advise against it. Offshore sportsbooks are not authorized or regulated in Kansas, meaning your bankroll is at risk. Make sure to avoid these sportsbooks:
Not yet. Senate Bill 84 awaits Gov. Kelly's signature. If approved, Kansans will have access to legal sports betting.
When legal sports betting arrives in Kansas, you will have to be physically within state lines to bet online. However, you won't need to be a resident.
Right now, it's illegal to bet on sports in Kansas. Once that changes, both online and retail options will become available.
When sports betting is legalized, you will be able to wager on both professional and college teams based in Kansas.
Should legal sports betting arrive in Kansas, you will have to be 21 or older to wager on sports.
No. At the moment, all sports betting activities are illegal in Kansas.
No. But should the state legalize sports betting, the operator may come to Kansas at some point.
None yet. But, if sports betting is legalized, you can anticipate the most popular bet types to be the following: The point spread, Over/Under (totals), moneylines, player and team props.
Joshua Howe is a commercial content editor at Covers, assisting experts in making smarter sports bettors. Prior to joining the team in 2021, the experienced writer and editor worked in a variety of industries, including sports, marketing, and publishing.
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