Legislators from both chambers in Kansas have a sports betting agreement.
With a final SB 84, a KS sports betting deal was adopted by the House early in the morning of April 2, but the Senate adjourned before taking the bill up. Now, the bill must wait until April 25 before its next possible move.
If the Senate approves the bill when it returns, the legislation will go to Gov. Laura Kelly, who was supportive in comments earlier this week.
“I do think we ought to have some sort of sports betting here in the state of Kansas,” Kelly told reporters at an event this week, according to The Kansas City Star. “I know so many people who go to Iowa every weekend. I’d like for them to stay here and spend their money in the state of Kansas.”
Kansas sports betting bill basics
Last week’s actions were pushed by a conference committee made up of six legislators, three each from the Senate and House.
The bill allows the state’s four casinos to open retail sportsbooks and operate up to three online skins. A casino operator can also request an additional skin in partnership with a professional sports organization in Kansas.
In the conference committee, the Senate adopted a House component that will allow sports casino operators to enter marketing agreements with up to 50 retailers. The two chambers also agreed to allow up to 1,000 historic horse racing machines at a location in Sedgewick County.
Kansas conference agreements
The two chambers were fairly far apart on proposed taxes on sports betting revenue. The six legislators agreed to a 10% tax on both retail and mobile sports betting. They also agreed promo revenue will be exempt from taxes.
The Senate dropped its inclusion of online lottery tickets in the committee.
The lawmakers also agreed to punt several issues into future sessions, including regulating gray-market video gaming machines and greyhound simulcast racing.
Lengthy effort in Kansas
Legislators have worked for several sessions to get sports betting across the goal line. Last year, SB 84 came close, passing the Senate before the House could not reach an agreement.
The bill carried over into this year, setting up the potential passage this month.
The Topeka Capital-Journal listed KS sports betting among the top six issues heading into this year’s legislative session.
Missouri sports betting next?
With both Kansas and Missouri sports betting bills moving forward in March, lawmakers in both states took shots at the neighboring state.
It became clear legislators in both states do not want to miss out on an issue the other legalized. The Missouri House passed a proposal that will be taken up by a Senate committee next week.
“If Kansas gets it passed, it puts more pressure to get it done,” Missouri sports betting bill sponsor Rep. Dan Houx told LSR this week.