Kansas cuts it fine for sports betting launch in time for the NFL season

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission has not yet voted on draft regulations.

US.- When Kansas governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 84 into law on May 12, the original timeline envisaged was for sports betting to start in early 2023, but Kelly said operations could start as early as this autumn, in time for football season. However, it’s still not certain if that will happen.

Todd Allen, the director of wagering for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission has told BetKansas.com, that agency’s members have not yet voted on draft regulations for betting. The delay could cause the Kansas sports betting launch to get pushed back. 

By August 1, the commission needs to have a process in place to complete background investigations on sportsbook platforms. Draft regulations are expected by August 12 with the Kansas Lottery to start the approval process for sportsbooks on September 1. That leaves just one week before the NFL season starts on September 8.

Kansas’s four state-owned casinos have already announced partnerships with sportsbook platforms that would allow for retail and mobile sports betting.

Kansas’s sports betting legislation was approved by the Senate and House of Representatives in April, the Senate by 21 votes to 13 and the House of Representatives 73 to 49. It’s the 35th US state to legalise sports betting. The law will allow people in Kansas to bet online on sporting events and to place bets at state-owned casinos and up to 50 other locations chosen by each casino.

Tribal casinos will be able negotiate with the state to offer sports wagering. They will be able to make a request to the Kansas governor and Kansas Lottery director to operate a sportsbook under similar terms and conditions to the state-run casinos. Kansas will collect a 10 per cent tax on sports betting revenue.