The Kansas Lottery has announced that the state will begin accepting sports bets on September 1, also setting an official launch date of September 8. This launch date falls only a week before the opening day of the 2022 NFL season.
The six sports betting platforms ready for launch are FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, Penn Entertainment (Barstool) and FOX Bet. These dominant sportsbooks will be joined by other operators later as the Sunflower State has the groundwork laid to be a lucrative gambling market.
The bill legalizing sports betting in Kansas was signed into law on May 12 by Governor Laura Kelly. The start date of September 8 will make this the quickest turnaround of a sports betting bill being passed to it being officially launched statewide.
Kansas’ four state-owned casinos are all partnering with sportsbooks for the fall launch. Hollywood Crossing Casino is teaming with FOX Bet while Kansas Star is going with FanDuel and BetMGM. Meanwhile, Kansas Crossing Casino is partnering with PointsBet and Caesars, with Boot Hill Casino planning to use Bally Bet and DraftKings’ sportsbooks.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly commented: “Legalizing sports betting is a common-sense solution that keeps Kansans’ money in Kansas and drives business sporting events, casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues. I want to thank all our partners for working with us to get this done in time for football season.”
This announcement was expected and a logistical framework for sports betting exists now. The KRCG has begun preparations to work on internal controls with the lottery gaming facility managers. KRCG Director of Wagering Todd Allen said the state has a "good foundation for sports betting regulations.”
