Kansas is the next state that could join the sports betting industry as House Bill 2740 would permit wagering on both professional and collegiate teams. Sports betting wouldn’t be allowed for people who are under the age of 18 as some other jurisdictions have the age set at 21.
There is Still an Uphill Battle Ahead in Kansas
A hearing on HB2740 is set for 8 am on Tuesday in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. Kansas still has a long road ahead as the legislative process cannot be done overnight.
The initiative needs support from both the 125-member state House of Representatives and the 40-member before it could reach Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk at some point in the future.
Under the bill, three interactive sports wagering platforms would be run by the state lottery. These four gaming facilities are located in Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City, the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, and the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel in Pittsburg. A total of 12 skins would be possible in the Kansas sports betting market.
The Pressure is On Kansas to Establish a Sports Betting Market
The bill would allow potential bettors across the state to bet on an array of different events and a plethora of ways to place wagers throughout the year. These would include moneylines, straights, parlays, live in-game betting, and others.
The industry is set to expand as neighboring states like Missouri and Oklahoma have been pushing for sports betting as it would also create new jobs for the states. Oklahoma would benefit heavily as Texas doesn’t have a legalized market.
To the west, Colorado has become a strong destination in the industry and has shown no signs of stopping any time soon. Sports wagering is legal in Nebraska, but it is not operational. Arkansas is also nearby, and its market launched earlier this month.
Southland Casino in West Memphis launched its online Betly Sportsbook. The resort also made a Betly Sportsbook app that will be available for IOS users soon. The other two casinos in the state Saracen and Oaklawn, also have retail locations, but their apps are set to launch very soon.
Back in November 2021, DraftKings announced it had established a partnership to gain access in Kansas. The brand partnered with BHCMC, a subsidiary of Butler National Corporation which owns and manages Boot Hill Casino & Resort.
Kansas has strong collegiate sports like the Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas State Wildcats. The college teams alone would drive up the average betting volume, especially during March Madness.
The Sports Betting Industry is Looking For 2022
Across the country, sports betting is legal in 30 states and Washington, D.C. It is also legal in three other states, but it is not operational yet. The industry is trying to enter the three most-populous states in the country, which include California, Texas, and Florida.
Progress has been difficult to make in these three states as the Seminole Tribe quietly launched HardRock Sportsbook before it was shut down in a few weeks. Mobile sports betting has taken off New York as the Empire State continues to set new records.
