Following a strenuous push from Kansas-based sports betting regulators, the likelihood of a sports betting launch in The Sunflower State to be finalized before the NCAAF season-opener is becoming further out of reach.
Sports betting in KS during the football season is possible. Still, college football betting on September 3 is undoubtedly a stretch, said the director of wagering at the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Todd Allen.
“I don’t think there are any problems with anything,” Allen commented. “Things seem to be moving smoothly; it’s just probably hard to make an opening weekend.
“I sure wouldn’t want to guarantee anything like that.”
Sports Betting in Kansas Approaching Regulatory Approval
Allen mentioned that teams from the KRGC and the Kansas Lottery are working profusely to deliver sports betting in the quickest way achievable. This includes draft regulations that the commission should put forth during the August 12 meeting.
Allen said an application will immediately be sent to the state requesting temporary regulations if approved. And then finally, the KRGC can handle the internal controls alongside sportsbook operators.
In the meantime, the lottery handles contracts between four state-owned casinos and the sports betting operators they decided to partner with.
Kansas Casino Partners and Sports Wagering
Kansas-based regulators have worked closely with the state’s casinos since 2017. All four current KS casinos can partner with a sportsbook operator to produce online sports betting services.
“We’ve got some good relationships established with them, and those make it much smoother,” Allen said. “They each have the ability to have three interactive sports wagering providers, and there’s a few that have not filled that allotment, and that’s OK.
“They can launch with who they have ready to go when we get ready to start this in Kansas.” He added.
| Casino | Operator | Sportsbook 1 | Sportsbook 2 | Sportsbook 3 |
| Hollywood Casino | Penn National | Barstool | ||
| Kansas Star Casino | Boyd Gaming | BetMGM | FanDuel | |
| Boot Hill Casino & Resort | Boot Hill Gaming | DraftKings | Bally Bet | |
| Kansas Crossing Casino & Hotel | Peninsula Pacific Ent. | PointsBet | Caesars |
Partnerships Developing in Kansas
Several operators applied for Kansas sports betting licenses and have been prepared for years, including PointsBet, who announced a deal they’d struck with Kansas Crossing Casino in January 2020. Additionally, Caesars Sportsbooks will be present through Kansas Crossing.
Although operators had already announced the agreements, Boot Hill Casino declared their partnerships with DraftKings and Bally Bet this past May.
Towards the end of July 2022, Kansas Speedway declared the Hollywood Casino would take the newly established naming rights to their September 11 race, now known as the Hollywood Casino 400, presented by Barstool Sportsbook.
Hollywood Casino is already planning the structure of a Barstool retail sportsbook which includes a patio area that oversees the racetrack.
The Kansas Star Casino, operated by Boyd Gaming, has partnered with BetMGM and FanDuel.
