Legislation
US – Kansas State Senate approves online and retail sports betting bill
By Phil - 9 March 2021
Kansas State Senate has passed Bill SB 84 that will allow the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act (KELA) to bring in sports betting operations at the state’s four casinos, who will be allowed to offer land-based sports betting and online betting with up to three mobile sportsbook operators.
Sports grounds, such as Kansas Speedway and Sporting Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Park, can also team up with casinos in the online betting arena although greyhound races aren’t allowed to.
Retail sports betting will be taxed at 5.5 per cent and online betting at eight per cent.
In terms of who owns what, Penn National Gaming operates the Hollywood Casino, close to the Kansas Speedway, providing an opportunity for its partner Barstool Sports.
Boyd Gaming, who has partnered with FanDuel, runs the Kansas Star Casino whilst the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel has teamed with PointsBet. The Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City is owned by Butler National and hasn’t yet confirmed its sports betting partner.
In terms of tribal gaming, the bill could let tribes renegotiate their gaming pacts to offer sports betting, which could see casinos operated by Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska enter the fray.
Caption: Hollywood Casino by Kansas Speedway
