Last year, Kansas sports betting legislation came close to passing before it faltered in the House. This year, lawmakers are poised to move sports wagering forward. In fact, the Topeka Capital-Journal named sports betting among its top six issues to watch in 2022.
State Rep. Brandon Woodard said, “I’m optimistic it’s going to get done this year.” In the 2021 session, the Senate passed a bill that would have allowed the state’s four casinos to offer sports betting with three mobile skins each. But instead of taking up the Senate bill, the House put in its own version, which included one online skin and a dog racing component, which Woodward blamed for the bill’s failure. He said this year’s legislative focus is likely to be on the Senate bill. The House also could return last year’s bill to committee.
Woodard noted, “If we can get the House version to be a little less free market or more focused on the best places to start and we can expand from there, we can get it to conference committee.”
Woodard stated he wasn’t concerned about sports betting when he initially ran for office. Since then, he’s focused on the issue because his constituents are largely under age 65 and are very interested in getting sports betting legalized. Woodard said a lot of his constituents drive to nearby Iowa to place sports wagers. “Many of the folks representing border districts are hearing if we don’t do it now, they’ll drive across state lines. They’re already going to buy wine at Target and pay lower sales tax on groceries. I’d prefer to see people come into Kansas to capture the revenue.”
Earlier this month, the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs reviewed the two bills from last year. State Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau said, “I think after a few years of hearing bills and the presentation on sports wagering, I think we’re really close to our goa. Committee Chairman state Senator Robert Olson stated, “I continue to be confident that they will get something done this year. The consensus seemed to be in both chambers that it was a priority this year.”
