An amendment to Kansas’ Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Class III gaming compact has been approved in agreement with the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Prairie Band Casino & Resort may now launch sports betting this year.
The Kansas Lottery and Kansas Racing Gaming Commission (KRCG) announced an official launch for sports betting in the state in 2022; however, the Tribe’s launch had not advanced due to a federal court case brought forth by Florida’s Seminole Tribe.
Now, Kansas lawmakers have approved the Tribal casino’s compact amendments and the casino is aiming for a launch date in Q4 this year. Kansas Capitol Bureau reported that Tribal Council Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupknick said the launch could also be as early as September.
Rupknick added, “Initially, we’re going to have a sports betting room that’s going to be located in the casino, and our hope is going to be to offer up a mobile app.”
Sports wagering will only be authorized on this Tribe’s reservation, as other Tribal casinos will need to go through renegotiations with the state and have their own compacts amended or approved where required.
Rupknick said of the approval, “To be honest with you…it was a quite cumbersome process… and I didn’t really think it was going to get it done this year, but thanks to the Governor’s staff, their leadership, along with the leadership of the elected members of the House and Senate, we were able to get this done.”
