Kansas legislators have approved a bill that will legalize sports betting statewide. A majority of the sports betting revenue generated will be used as an incentive for the Kansas City Chiefs to move from the team’s Missouri-based location over to the Kansas metropolitan side.
The Senate passed the bill by a 21 to 13 vote. Six GOP senators abstained from voting. The House also passed the measure in a vote of 73 to 49.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is soon expected to sign the bill into law.
Under the terms of the bill, state residents will be able to submit wagers online through their cellphones or computer apps. They will also have access to state-owned casinos or up to 50 pre-selected locations picked out by the state’s four casinos as other sports betting options.
Wagers placed would be subject to a 10% tax per bet by the state.
The bill allocates 80% of the revenue, or an estimated $5m per year, to fund the initiative to entice the Kansas City Chiefs to make the move from Missouri to Kansas, although other teams have been considered to receive the same deal. Pro baseball’s Kansas City Royals had also been considered, along with pro basketball and hockey teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs, however, were the favorite among the proposed recipients. Supporters have contemplated efforts to lure the teams to the Legends, which is a Kansas City, Kansas shopping and entertainment district.
The Legends is currently home to professional soccer’s Sporting KC, a state-owned casino and a NASCAR track.
Online gambling is currently available in 32 states since the Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018. As of now, 18 states allow legal online sports wagering. According to the US Census Bureau, those jurisdictions represent more than 166.9 million people.
