Sports betting will come to Kansas as the market will go live on September 1st. After speculation that the market would launch between the start of the NFL and January 1st, 2023, the answer has finally been revealed.
The Sunflower State Will Finally Have a Live Sports Betting Market
On Thursday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the four state-owned casinos could start accepting wagers on that date. Bettors across the state can also place wagers on mobile devices, which is a good sign for those that patiently waited for the announcement.
The official launch will take place on September 8th, but sportsbook operators can start taking bets on September 1st. The Kansas City Chiefs will open their season against the Arizona Cardinals on the road. The home team, Sporting KC, can also partner with these mobile sportsbooks.
Numerous rumors circulated about when sports betting would begin in the state. However, bettors in the Sunflower State will have the luxury of having the opportunity of placing wagers on every regular season game for the NFL season, unlike bettors in Ohio who have to wait until the New Year.
The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission is already doing the necessary background checks needed to prepare for the launch. Kansas also had one of the fastest processes of going from legal to live. It will only have taken 112 days for the state to go from legal to live, just behind Iowa, which went from legal to live in 96 days.
Is Kansas Rushing the Sports Betting Operation?
As the market shows, eight reputable bookmakers will launch in the state. This includes Bally Bet, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, FOX Bet, and PointsBet, as they have the partnerships necessary to launch their own platforms.
Some experts believe that Kansas is rushing the whole process as the NFL brings in the most wagers each year. Jurisdictions across the board reach new records as their monthly reported handles bring in a plethora of revenue and wagers during the final quarter of the year.
The Kansas Attorney General’s office has found significant legal issues based on the rules and regulations that were set forth. The Lottery will have to fix the issues as the temporary rules were approved not that long ago.
At least three sportsbooks already stated their pre-launch deals for new users that sign up for their platforms. DraftKings and FanDuel will offer $100 in free bets for new customers. BetMGM was the latest to announce their promotion as they raised the ante to $200, giving them a clear edge in that department.
Even though Barstool hasn’t announced any promotions, the bookmaker has gained naming rights for the NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway. The event is set to take place on September 11th.
Kansas Will Have Vistors From Other States
Many believed that Missouri would have a sports betting market as soon as Kansas launched. However, no deal was reached, and lawmakers will be busy once again during next year’s legislative session.
Visitors in Missouri will certainly cross state lines to place wagers throughout the year. On top of that, the Kansas City Chiefs will be Super Bowl contenders once again.
