With the NFL season a week away, Kansas sports betting launches today.
There are six sportsbooks lined up to launch for Kansas sports betting Thursday, according to the Kansas Lottery. Those operators all went live sometime after noon local time.
The sportsbooks that will be ready to roll for NFL betting are:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet
Two Kansas sportsbooks ready for retail
Each of the four state-owned casinos can partner with up to three online sportsbook operators.
Hollywood Casino will offer both mobile and in-person sports betting with its Barstool Sportsbook. The casino and sportsbook share naming rights for the Sept. 11 NASCAR race at the neighboring Kansas Speedway.
FanDuel will open a retail sportsbook at Kansas Star Casino and former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson will place the first bet Thursday. FanDuel will also be live for mobile betting.
Another four sportsbooks ready for Kansas online sports betting
DraftKings will be live for mobile bets through its Boot Hill Casino & Resort partnership. DraftKings announced Wednesday its retail sportsbook at Boot Hill will open in October.
Boot Hill also provides market access to Bally Bet and Golden Nugget.
Likewise, Kansas Crossing Casino will announce its retail plans in the future. The casino provides three mobile sportsbooks access:
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- PointsBet
Here is more from the operators as they announced their launches Thursday:
BetMGM available for KS sports betting
BetMGM kicked the day off by announcing a partnership with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. The operator then launched on the starting line as its 24th North American market.
“We’re confident sports fans across the Sunflower State will enjoy the excitement of wagering with BetMGM,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “We would like to thank the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Kansas Lottery and Kansas Crossing Casino for being great partners and supporting our efforts.”
DraftKings hits the Sunflower State
DraftKings debuted in Kansas as the market was off and running Thursday afternoon.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver our award-wining products to Kansas sports fans for the 2022 NFL and college football seasons,” DraftKings co-found Matt Kalish said. “It’s an especially exhilarating time of year, and we are excited for eligible Kansans to be able to get in on all the action through DraftKings’ seamless and responsible sports betting experience.”
FanDuel starts with a bang in Kansas
FanDuel opened its Kansas sports betting action with a retail sports bet from former NFL receiver Jordy Nelson at Kansas Star Casino.
The market is the seventh for the Boyd Gaming and FanDuel partnership. It is FanDuel’s 16th online US sports betting market.
PointsBet sores into Kansas sports betting
PointsBet entered its 11th online US sports betting market with the opening of Kansas Thursday.
“We are excited to be launching on the starting line and having our outstanding sportsbook product available to the people of Kansas from day one,” PointsBet Group CEO and Managing Director Sam Swanell said. “With NFL season kicking off on September 9 the timing is perfect to showcase our NFL in-play betting capabilities in particular.”
Caesars goes live in Kansas
Caesars was the last of the operators to announce their launch on Thursday afternoon.
“We’re proud to deliver a world-class sports betting experience that matches the championship pedigree Kansas is known for,” said Eric Hession, Co-President of Caesars Digital. “Our Caesars Sportsbook app has never been more user-friendly, and when you combine that with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities offered through Caesars Rewards, we’re thrilled about what we can bring to Kansas sports fans in time for football season.”
Journey to Kansas sports betting
Gov. Laura Kelly signed sports betting legislation in May, following a sports betting negotiation session that nearly missed a crucial legislative deadline. The passage in 2022 came following a near miss in 2021.
Kansas is one of the fastest states to go from governor signature to launch, joining states like Arizona and Wyoming to go live by football season following a spring legislative session. The speedy effort was in large part because the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission regularly works closely with the Kansas Lottery, which owns the state’s four casinos.
There was a scare in late August when the Kansas Attorney General’s Office notified the Kansas Lottery it did not approve some of the agency’s regulations just hours after the launch date announcement. The Lottery sorted out the issue quickly to keep the timeline on track.
What to expect from the Kansas market
Legislators from Kansas and Missouri were in a race to legalize sports betting, with Missourians ultimately falling short. That could mean a significant boon to the Kansas side of the border when it comes to Kansas City, Missouri, which is home to the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals.
Kansas is home to the Major League Soccer team Sporting Kansas City.
With a solid collegiate fanbase, Kansas could be comparable to Connecticut sports betting, which launched in October 2021. Connecticut sportsbooks have taken $1.2 billion in bets since then, with the state collecting $8.2 million in taxes.
Kansas legislators implemented a 10% tax rate for sports betting revenue.
Kansas sports betting limitations
Unlike some markets in US sports betting, there are few limitations in Kansas. Operators will be able to offer significant promotions heading into the NFL season.
There is also no ban on college sports betting, nor on betting on in-state college schools. Sportsbook customers do need to be 21 years or older.
Kansas bettors will also have a healthy menu of sports betting options, including:
- Moneyline
- Point spreads
- Totals
- Parlays
- Prop bets
- Futures
