On July 1, sports betting will become legal in Kansas and will be regulated by the Kansas Lottery and Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC).
At a recent meeting, commissioners said they’ll send a first draft of regulations to the operators of the four state-owned casinos: Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Boyd Gaming/Kansas Star in Mulvane, JNB/Kansas Crossing in Pittsburg and Penn National Gaming/Hollywood Casino in Kansas City.
Commissioners said they plan to review draft rules at the July 22 meeting. Todd Allen, director of government relations for the KRGC, said, “The hope is that if things go well with input from the operators, we’re still hoping to have the regulations before the July 22 commission meeting, and [the commission] could approve those. Everybody is staying up very long nights trying to get this thing done as quickly as we can.”
The KRGC has also started conducting background checks of operators. According to a timeline spelled out in the sports betting law, the background checks do not officially have to begin before August 1. Allen noted the commission is ahead of schedule.
Kansas Lottery Director Stephen Durrell said under the law, each of the four casinos can have a brick-and-mortar sportsbook and up to three skins each, for a total of 12 possible digital platforms. “Contracts are out for review,” Durrell said. According to the sports betting law, regulators must launch the digital platforms by January 1, 2023.
To date, casinos have partnered with eight of the 12 potential skins: Boot Hill Casino with Bally’s and DraftKings; Hollywood Casino/Penn National Gaming with Barstool Sportsbook and FOX Bet; Boyd Gaming/Kansas Star with BetMGM and FanDuel; and JNB/Kansas Crossing with Caesars and PointsBet.
The law also allows the MLS team Sporting KC and the Kansas Speedway to have sports wagering platforms in partnership with a casino.
By August 1, the Kansas Lottery must publish in the Kansas Register “how it will receive, consider and approve proposed lottery gaming facility management contracts,” according to the legislation. And on September 1, the lottery must publish the process for submission of license requests.
Meanwhile, Governor Laura Kelly said her office plans to renegotiate tribal compacts to allow sports betting. “We need to modify their compacts, so that process is proceeding now,” Kelly said.
Officials said tribal casinos would have to submit a request for negotiation to Kelly and the Kansas Lottery director. The director would then enter an agreement on behalf of the state. Ultimately, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior would review and approve the new compacts.
