The Kansas Lottery and Kansas Racing Gaming Commission (KRCG) are set to announce the official launch date of legalized sports betting in the Sunflower State on August 18. The gambling site BetKansas confirmed that Kansas will be joining the 30 states which have already implemented legal sports betting.
BetKansas also claimed the official announcement will come later today and should include details such as the confirmed start date and all the betting platforms and providers which will be available statewide.
The source believes that sportsbooks in Kansas will have the option to begin accepting wagers as soon as September 8, when lawmakers will set out SB 84 (the sports betting legislation). SB 84 was agreed upon in the spring but a launch date was not made public by any officials.
State regulators are believed to have approved draft legislation earlier this week and have been working closely with sportsbook operators in preparation for a launch this fall. Michigan State Representative and current Sportradar Head of Government Affairs Brant Iden is on the record as saying that the Kansas launch is imminent.
The logistics for Kansas sports betting are already being arranged. Director of Wagering at the KRCG Todd Allen remarked the state had a "good foundation for sports betting regulations now." Once finalized, the KRCG is prepared to begin working on internal controls with the lottery gaming facility managers.
BetKansas Lead Analyst Christopher Boan commented: “Using Arizona's launch as a model, the Grand Canyon State went through the same process last summer to green light their sports betting legislature to get up and running for NFL season.
“Based on the 147 days between the bill being signed and the actual launch of wagering in Arizona, we would tentatively expect an October 9th, 2022 launch in Kansas.”