Kansas, also known as the Sunflower State, is located in the US heartlands and is named after the Kansa Native American Tribe that uninhabited the area. Kansas has given us a number of prominent figures including the first female mayor in the US, Susan Madora Salter as well as the 34th President of the United States Dwight, D. Eisenhower. However, one thing for which Kansas isn’t quite so well known is its gambling industry. While gambling laws in Kansas are friendlier than the average US state, it still has not joined other states in legalizing sports betting. We take a look at the current gambling and sports betting opportunities in Kansas.
Kansas Gambling Laws
Since the tearing up of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, US states have been scrambling to formulate new legislation for the gambling industry. Kansas is no different. Two failed attempts made in 2018 to modernize gambling laws in the Sunflower State didn’t discourage campaigners from pursuing change, and on September 1 2022, sports betting finally became legal in Kansas after Governor Laura Kelly signed bill SB 84 into law.
This new gambling landscape will be regulated by two state-sponsored bodies: the Kansas Lottery, which will handle the licensing applications of prospective Kansas betting sites; and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC), responsible for overseeing regulation.
You must be 21 in order to participate in sports betting in Kansas, and can only do so while physically present in the state. All Kansas sportsbooks will come with geolocation technology to verify bettors’ locations.
Lottery
Other forms of gambling have taken place in Kansas for many years, including the state-run lottery, first established following the passing of the Kansas Lottery Act in 1987. The Kansas Lottery offers a number of different games, such as draw games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America, as well as smaller scratch ticket draws. Residents must be 18 to take part.
Casino
Although Kansas sportsbooks have been given the green light, gambling at online casinos is still prohibited, although residents can visit the following nine physical casinos located across the state:
- 7th Street Casino – Kansas City
- Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway – Kansas City
- Casino White Cloud – Dodge City
- Golden Eagle Casino – Horton
- Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel – Pittsburg
- Kansas Star Casino – Mulvane
- Prairie Band Casino & Resort – Mayetta
- Sac and Fox Casino – Powhattan
Gambling Tax in Kansas
Just like you would in other US states, you’ll be required to pay tax on any substantial gambling winnings. How much you pay depends on your average income: if that figure is less than $15,000, the tax rate is set at 3.1%; for those earning $15,001-$29,999 it’s 5.25% plus a fixed fee of $465; and for those earning $30,000+, the rate is 5.7% plus a fixed fee of $1,252.50. Tax rates start to apply as soon as you win more than $600 in the same tax year, so it’s important to keep track of your winnings.
Sports to Bet on in Kansas
Kansas sports betting sites will offer markets on the most popular sports right here in the US, as well as other sports favored around the world. Here are some examples of the sports and competitions Kansans can wager on.
NFL
The biggest league in America’s biggest sport, NFL’s Super Bowl event represents the pinnacle of football. As such, you’ll find a ton of betting opportunities at your new Kansas sportsbook — from making outright predictions on the season to pinpointing the number of rushing yards made by Jonathan Taylor in a single Colts game. The possibilities are practically endless. The Kansas City Chiefs are the closest franchise to Kansas in the NFL, although they’re located in the Missouri side of the city.
NBA
Basketball’s premier league competition is composed of 30 teams, who take part in a mammoth main season of 82 games, before the playoff rounds crown the eventual champions. Kansas doesn’t have its own representatives in the NBA, with Oklahoma City’s Thunder and Denver’s Nuggets the two closest franchises by location.
However, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas both compete in the NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. Known as the Jayhawks and the Wildcats respectively, both of these colleges have a big basketball following, and you’ll be able to wager on their games.
MLB
The MLB makes claim to the oldest professional sports league in the world, tracing its origins back to 1876. It splits its 30 teams into two leagues — the National League, and the American League. 29 of these teams are based in the US, with the Toronto Blue Jays the only representatives from Canada. Kansas City is home to the Royals, though again they’re based on Missouri’s side of the border.
NHL
The National Hockey League sees teams from both the US and Canada compete for the Stanley Cup — the oldest trophy in North American sports, awarded to the champions at the end of the season. The Kansas City Mavericks are the highest-ranked ice hockey team in the state, competing in the ECHL. The best Kansas betting sites will offer markets on leagues further down the professional pyramid, including the ECHL and below.
Soccer
Soccer is perhaps Kansas’s most successful sport, with Sporting Kansas City competing in the MLS, and Kansas City Current in the NWSL. Away from the US, the best Kansas sportsbooks will run markets on all of the biggest competitions in Europe and South America, as well as events in smaller footballing nations.
Horse Racing
Horse racing gambling has been regulated by the KRGC since 1989 following the opening of the Woodlands Racetrack in Kansas City, but its history stretches much further than this. In fact, wagering on horses has been a popular American pastime since the end of the 19th century, when over 300 race tracks were in operation. This long-standing tradition will be apparent in the horse racing sections of Kansas sports betting sites, with customers able to place bets on all of the major racing events across the world.
Golf
Got a feeling that Rory McIlroy will finally break his Masters duck this year? This is exactly the kind of outright bet you could place on golf at a Kansas betting site. You could make similar predictions for the other major US tournaments, and any other prestigious events on the tour.
Tennis
Roger Federer’s recent retirement was a day some thought may never come, with the big three’s dominance over the sport now extending to an incredible 63 major singles titles. Who will fill the void eventually left by these tennis greats? You can place bets on any heir apparent to shine at the next Grand Slam event, or explore markets and matches at smaller tournaments around the world.
F1 and Kansas Speedway
The American Grand Prix comes to Austin, Texas once a year. Alongside the American Grand Prix, there are 21 others to bet on in this year’s Grand Prix calendar, so plenty of opportunity to get to know the teams, and individual drivers themselves. There are all sorts of betting types to consider; perhaps you want to play the long game and bet on who will win the overall Driver’s Champion or even the overall Constructors Championship. Otherwise you can take it race by race, and bet on more specific elements, such as if the safety car will be brought out, or who will achieve the fastest lap.
More specific to Kansas is, of course, Kansas Speedway. This highly exciting, adrenaline-filled racing ground is set on a one-and-a-half-mile track near Kansas City. As of 2022 it hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. Like F1, there are many types of bets you can place on Speedway at the best Kansas sports betting sites – perhaps keeping it simple with who will win, or on more specific events such as an over/under on a particular rider’s points accumulation.
Betting Formats in Kansas
There are many different types of bets available to place at a Kansas betting site. Below are some of the most common examples.
Moneyline
A moneyline wager is sports betting in its simplest form: just pick the winner of any given match. There are no other conditions to these bets. Just be careful when making moneyline predictions on contests that can stretch into overtime, as most betting operators only accept the result at the end of normal time.
Parlays
Parlay bets, also known as accumulators, are those that roll multiple predictions into one bet slip. The overall odds are calculated by multiplying the odds of each individual selection, so returns are much bigger than standard moneyline bets. Each component of the parlay must come off in order for the wager to be won, so the chances of winning are smaller compared to straight-up moneyline bets. An example of a parlay would be the Memphis Grizzlies to win by 15+ points, and Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to both score 20+ points in the game.
Point Spreads
With a point spread bet, a payout is dependent on the margin of victory, as opposed to a win/loss proposition. The stronger team, or favorite, in any given contest must win by a specific number of points, as determined by the sportsbook. It can be a little complicated to understand, so let’s break it down.
Let’s say the Philadelphia Eagles — regarded by many as the best team in the NFL — were lining up against the New England Patriots. Your Kansas sportsbook might place the Eagles as the -8 favorite, meaning that a point spread wager on the Eagles to win would only payout if they won by eight points or more. Point spreading is particularly popular on football and basketball events.
Prop Bets
Short for proposition bets, prop bets home in on specific actions within the game itself. Prop bets are therefore in no way dependent on the overall outcome of the match, instead targeting individual players and their performance. One example would be for Albert Pujols to hit one home run in the Cardinals v Dodgers game.
Under/Over
This type of betting is based on statistics decided by online sportsbooks, and you then guess on whether a team or individual will go over or under the suggested total. It typically relates to the amount of goals or points scored, or perhaps the number of times something happens in a game. Kansas sports betting fans may like to try an under/over on goal margins during the NFL season or perhaps even how many rounds of MMA a fight will last for.
Live Betting
Live betting, or in-play betting, allows bettors to place wagers while the action is taking place. If the Kansas Chiefs are dominating a game, you may feel compelled to bet on them winning. Equally, if a match is looking a little fractious, you can even place a live bet on how many people will get ejected, or perhaps how many penalties will be given during a soccer match. Not all bookies offer live betting, so check through our reviews for the best options available to you.
Mobile Betting in Kansas
New freedoms afforded by bill SB 84 extend to mobile betting, so you can place bets on the go either in your mobile browser or through a Kansas sportsbook mobile app — DraftKings, PointsBet, FanDuel, BetMGM, and more are all available to Kansans.
But why choose mobile sports betting over desktop? Well, stats show that it’s the preferred method of accessing gambling sites for many people, so the top online sportsbooks always ensure their mobile capabilities at least match those of a desktop. Moreover, betting via a mobile device allows you the freedom to continue with your day-to-day tasks – it’s more readily available when you’re out and about, particularly if you choose to save a site to your cell phone’s homepage.
Mobile App Betting in Kansas
Here at Compare.bet, we always point our readers towards betting in a mobile app wherever possible. Nowadays, all of the best sites, across all genres, are creating apps that allow customers to feel part of a community, as well as access some of the benefits not associated with regular site access – this includes the best online sportsbooks. Let’s look at some of the main benefits of betting via a mobile app.
- Push notifications – the best Kansas sports betting apps will alert you with notifications of the latest promotions and offers available which is something you can’t achieve through desktop or regular mobile access;
- No need to log in every time – clicking on an app takes you straight through to your personal account meaning there’s no need to locate a URL and log in each time;
- Improved functionality – apps are designed for smaller screens so you’ll hopefully find the layout easier to navigate, and pages clearer to read;
- Speedier loading times – accessing a site via an app allows for faster loading times meaning you don’t have to wait around;
- Unique promotions – much like other industries, the best Kansas sports betting apps will offer bonuses and promo codes that are unique to app users. And because of the customization of apps, they will likely be with regard to sports teams or events you have previously shown an interest in, whether that’s during the NFL season, in the run up to the soccer World Cup, or during a tennis grand slam.
Safety and Security at Kansas Sports Betting Sites
Our job is to promote gambling in its healthiest light, which means only ever recommending licensed betting sites. These licenses oblige operators to deploy state-of-the-art encryption technology, protecting both customer data and banking information. For these reasons and many more, you should never place a bet at an unlicensed sportsbook — you won’t ever find one on our website.
Responsible Gambling Measures
In addition to security, gambling licenses also commit operators into promoting responsible gambling. Some of the tips regularly recommended to ensure safe gambling practices include:
- making use of on-site limiters;
- only betting what you can afford to lose;
- never chasing losses;
- only betting when of sound mind;
- never keeping your gambling a secret from those around you.
Kansas already has strict gambling laws, which suggests that state regulators are likely to retain a tight regulatory framework for sports betting. This regulation ensures that sports betting in Kansas is safe and fair, whether punters are betting in person or online. Of course, it’s also up to bettors to take care and gamble responsibly.
If you’re worried that you, or someone you know, may have issues with problem gambling, you can contact the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) or the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling for a number of resources and support.
Contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:
Phone: +1-800-522-4700
Text: +1-800-522-4700
Online Chat
Contact the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling via:
Phone: +1-785-224-3503
Helpline: +1-800-522-4700
Are offshore gambling sites legal in Kansas?
No. Kansas considers all betting sites that operate without authorization from the state as illegal enterprises. Not only are offshore gambling sites illegal, we’d also recommend steering clear because there is no regulation to protect players. This means sites may not be secure or may not have measures in place to protect vulnerable players. There is also no way of knowing who is accountable for handling the money you deposit into these online accounts.
You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name. Domains ending .EU or .AG do not hold a license to operate in Kansas and should, therefore, be avoided at all costs.
Licencing and Regulations
The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Kansas
1974 – The state of Kansas authorized non-profit organizations to offer bingo under strict licencing and regulations.
1986 – After an amendment to the state’s constitution, the Kansas Lottery became legal. The same year, parimutuel wagering on dog racing and horse racing was approved by the state.
1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations
in place.
The same year a new state agency called the “Kansas Lottery” was put in charge of the state’s lottery games. This is still one of the most popular ways to gamble in Kansas. This year also saw the introduction of simulcast wagering for horse and dog racing events in other states.
1995 – Kansas entered into compacts with four native American tribes in the state. These compacts authorized the tribes to offer class 3 gaming to casino patrons. Class 3 gaming includes slot machines, poker and other casino table games. The four tribes opened casino venues in the state between 1996 and 1998.
2008 – In August 2008, all licenses that allowed racetracks to offer parimutuel wagering lapsed and were revoked by the state regulator.
2009 – The state’s Attorney General made it clear that, according to Kansas gambling laws, gambling on the internet is illegal. He is quoted as saying: “There is no express internet prohibition, but an Attorney General Opinion does provide that clearly, placing, receiving or forwarding a bet, or conducting a lottery, over the telephone or the internet is illegal.”
2013 – As of 2013, gambling losses were no longer tax deductible. This created, and still poses, a huge issue for professional gamblers who must now place more bets to earn a profit. On top of that, their winning can still be taxed.
The same year a new bill that would expand land-based casino venues in the state and, at the same time, ban online gambling was introduced. The bill would have also banned slot machines from racetracks in Kansas until 2032. The bill was ultimately unsuccessful in the Kansas Senate.
2018 – In 2018, two sports betting bills were introduced by lawmakers in Kansas. Although both failed to pick up much support, the bills did set the stage for the discussion of legal sports betting and whether or not the state should move to offer this activity.
On 14 May, the Supreme Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to
regulate their individual gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. A number of US sportsbooks launched across America in the weeks following the PASPA repeal.
2020 – Kansas Senate passes bill to authorize sports betting in the state. Discussions on the bill are delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022
- April – Kansas lawmakers approve bill SB 84, opening up sports betting across the state
- May – Governor Laura Kelly signs the bill, officially legalizing the practice
- September – Kansas’s sports betting market is officially launched, with a number of sportsbooks granted licenses to begin trading
Compare the Best Kansas Sports Betting Sites with Compare.bet
Have we answered your questions on the state of sports betting in Kansas? If so, why not take a look around at our recommendations of the best Kansas betting sites, before clicking through to a site you like the look of.
We segregate our list of the top sportsbooks according to a range of different criteria, so you can find the perfect site for you. Have a look at our user-focused reviews, compare sign-up bonuses, and place your first wager at a Kansas betting site.
FAQs
Players must be 18 years old to play the Kansas Lottery and charity bingo games, while Kansas bettors must be 21 years old to place pari-mutuel bets and gamble in casinos.
Yes — after years of deliberation, several failed legislative changes, and interruptions caused by the pandemic, sports betting is now legal in Kansas. It was signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly in May 2022, and the market opened on September 1 later that year.
Possibly, it depends on the betting site. Take a look at the site’s accepted payment methods before you sign up. PayPal is usually available, but that’s not the case at every Kansas betting site.
Here at Compare.bet, we’re only interested in reviewing and recommending licensed betting sites. That means that if you’ve found a sportsbook through our website, it’ll hold a suitable gambling license, ensuring standards of safety, security, and fair play are met.
Now that sports betting is legal in Kansas, there are many sportsbooks available. If you read through this review page you will see the online sportsbooks we recommend, with names such as BetMGM, Fanduel, BetRiver and DraftKings being some of the favorites mentioned.
Odds are specific to each Kansas sports betting site so it’s important to have a read through to see which markets you’re most interested in. Some sites aim their focus towards certain sports and as such, may offer more favorable odds than others. We have a section on this page which outlines the different betting types, as well as the sports you’re likely to find at the best Kansas sports betting sites, so have a read through to see which operator may meet your requirements.
