Legal Kansas Sports Betting Sites: Are There Any Safe KS Bookies?

Kansas may have a great casino industry, but unfortunately, there is still no legal Kansas sports betting. This is not to say that the hope for a legal Kansas sports betting market is a lost cause though, as a number of recent bills have proven that lawmakers and residents are seriously considering it.

As there is no Kansas legal online sportsbook to recommend, we’ve instead dedicated this guide to provide details on the current laws around gambling and the future outlook for the market. We’ve also discussed a number of other legal betting options so that you can discover the best and safest gambling in Kansas.

What Betting Options are Legal for Kansas Residents

The state of Kansas offers a surprisingly large gambling market, with nearly a dozen tribal-owned and state-run mega-casinos providing everything from slot machines to poker rooms. There is also a hugely popular state lottery system, and daily fantasy sports betting and pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog racing are also legal.

Is Daily Fantasy Available in Kansas?

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) has been legal in Kansas since May 2015, when lawmakers created a new bill that would exclude DFS from banned gambling activities. This is the only form of legal Kansas online gambling available, and in addition to racetrack betting, the closest thing to legal Kansas sports betting.

Both DraftKings and FanDuel accept players from Kansas for their DFS books, and when there is legal online sports betting in Kansas, they can hopefully offer their sportsbooks too. Both of these platforms are reputable sports betting sites and are among the most popular online sportsbooks in the country.

Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Kansas Players

As online gambling is illegal in Kansas, there are no legal offshore sites for Kansas players. The offshore betting sites such as Bovada, MyBookie, and BetOnline are known for accepting players in markets where sports betting is illegal, so they aren’t exactly the most trustworthy operators.

We always advise against registering with unlicensed bookmakers. This is because licenses guarantee that player protection measures are implemented, sportsbooks offer fair payouts and player accounts aren’t prone to outsider attacks. As these sites aren’t regulated, if players do have issues then they cannot file official complaints.

Kansas Casinos

Kansas has 11 tribal and state-run casinos, with over 11,000 slots and 165 table games available for gaming. The first four tribal gaming centers were established in the 90s, and include the Prairie Band Casino and Resort and the Golden Eagle Casino. In 2007, the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act allowed state-run casinos to be built.

Visitors to these casinos are able to enjoy everything from slots to poker and bingo games. As far as gaming options go, KS casinos rate highly compared to many other US states. It’s highly likely that if a Kansas sports betting bill is passed, these casinos will likely offer sportsbooks.

Racetrack Betting

Although there are no horse racing tracks in Kansas any more, off-track betting on greyhound and horse racing is allowed in the state. Bets can be placed at a number of licensed locations, including the state’s casinos and even online, which technically makes it the closest thing to legal online sports betting in Kansas.

There is currently a bill circulating the Kansas House of Representatives that seeks to allow slot machines and sports betting at racetracks. Even though there are none at the moment, lawmakers believe that by allowing new expanded betting options at the tracks, they would be able to operate profitably.

Card Rooms

Online poker may be illegal in Kansas, though a number of different land-based establishments offer regulated poker in the state. The largest rooms are located in the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and the Golden Eagle Casino in Horton. However, tournaments at these locations are unlikely to offer high-stakes games.

Regardless, these poker rooms offer players a great opportunity to learn many different types of poker, whether it’s Stud Poker or Texas Hold’em. Outside of these rooms, KS outlaws poker tournaments unless they are social games where no money is staked. This includes charity poker tournaments.

Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting

Until there is legal online sports betting in Kansas, locals are free to travel to other jurisdictions to wager on upcoming sporting events. Luckily for the state’s residents, KS is bordered or nearby to a number of states that offer in-person and mobile sports betting on major league and collegiate division games.

Below, we’ve listed three state guides to nearby sports betting markets that could be perfect for Kansas residents to visit and wager on the NFL, NBA, MLB & other major league sports.

• New Mexico
• Arkansas
• Colorado

What would Legal Sports Betting in Kansas Look Like

When it comes to legal Kansas sports betting, the question seems to be less of a matter of if, but rather a matter of when. At the moment, there are two conflicting bills that lawmakers are considering. Both of these are vastly different, so we’ll break them down into the simplest terms.

The first bill, S 283, is a Senate bill. It intends to give exclusivity on sports betting to four state-owned casinos. It would see that a tiered tax rate of 5.5% is applied to wagers in person, and 8% for wagers placed through a mobile app. The bill would also simultaneously allow for online lottery ticket sales.

The second bill, 2671, is a House bill. It would authorize the Kansas Lottery to operate sports wagering through a platform that would allow its 1,200 retailers to offer bets. It would also allow for racetracks to operate sports wagering. A tax of 14% would be applied to in-person bets and a 20% tax would be applied to mobile bets.

Both bills would offer bets on major sports leagues and possibly even collegiate level games. Although the bills are different and supported by different interests, they would both ensure sports betting is regulated by a government agency, with player protection measures and fairness enforced.

What are the Kansas Gambling Laws

Kansas gambling laws generally outlaws betting activities. It defines betting as making a bargain in an agreement dependent upon chance, where the bettor stands to win or lose something of value. Since this definition was written, a number of carve-outs have been created to allow for expanded gaming.

The first to be legalized was bingo, which was allowed in 1974 on the grounds that non-profit organizations offer it. In 1986, the Kansas State Lottery was legalized after the constitution, which specifically outlawed lottery ticket sales, was amended. The lottery is currently one of the most popular forms of gambling in Kansas.

In the same year, pari-mutuel wagering was legalized. A number of racetracks were established that have now shut down. In 1992, the law was updated that allowed for simulcast wagering on live races from other states and also allowed for off-track betting at other licensed venues.

In 1995, the state started its first contracts with four tribes to allow for slot machines, table games, and poker at casino locations on their reservations. In 2007, the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act was passed that allowed the state to establish a number of casinos to offer the same kind of casino gambling.

As the table above reveals, there are two minimum gambling ages in Kansas, depending on the activity. To participate in the lottery, bingo or raffles, players need to be over 18 years old. To gamble on pari-mutuel races or at casinos, players need to be over the age of 21.

What is the Future of Sports Betting in Kansas?

It’s hard to say when sports betting will be available, but it’s clear that lawmakers and gambling interests are working hard to introduce it in due time. The largest hurdle is that the two current bills are supported by different powerful interests, so there will need to be some compromising before a bill is passed. And I wouldn’t be too hopeful that sports betting is legalized in 2020.

The biggest factors that need addressing are the tax rates and who exactly will be able to offer sports betting. Luckily, both bills allow for mobile betting, meaning a Kansas online sportsbook is likely. Until this happens, Kansas residents will need to travel to one of the handful of states with legal sports betting to legally wager on sports. Should news reports suggest new gaming laws for the state, we’ll update our site accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any more questions about Kansas sports betting and whether or not you are able to make online bets anywhere? In the following section, we have answered a number of questions that are commonly asked about KS gaming laws.