Legal online and retail sports betting arrived in Kansas on September 1, 2022 just in time for the NFL season when popular sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings and four others participated in a “soft launch” in the state. The trial went well and Kansas fully launched a week later on September 8, 2022. Kansas currently boasts 4 retail sportsbook locations and six different online sports betting apps to choose from. Don’t be surprised if that number grows in the future as the state allows for up to 12 online sportsbook licenses.
With six online sportsbooks (and counting!) in Kansas, new sports bettors have several options. I will provide you with the best legal sports betting options in Kansas and how to get started betting on sports. I’ll also provide details on the state’s path toward legal sports betting, which Kansas teams you can wager on and responsible gambling resources.
Best Betting Sites in Kansas
No books available.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Kansas
Yes! Sports betting is legal in Kansas as of May 12, 2022 when Governor Laura Kelly’s signature on Senate Bill 84 made things official. Gamblers in Kansas are free to wager on sports online and in person and they have the ability ro register for sportsbooks remotely from home. After Gov. Kelly signed the appropriate legislation, regulated sportsbook operators flooded to the Sunflower State and began operating in September of 2022.
Unlike other states that have legalized sports betting, Kansas bettors are allowed to wager on the NFL Draft and in-state college teams like the Kansas Wildcats.
Kansas Quick Facts
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Launch Date: September, 2022
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Legal Betting Age: 21 years old
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Online Sports Betting: Yes
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Online Casino Sites: No
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Online Poker Sites: No
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Best Available Sportsbook: FanDuel
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Regulatory Body: Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
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Legal online sportsbooks: 6
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College Sports Betting: Yes
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Political or entertainment betting: No
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High School sports Betting: No
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Esports betting: No
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NFL Draft: Yes
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Remote registration: Yes
Timeline of Betting Legislation & Latest News
Sports betting was officially legalized on May 12, 2022, but the path to legalization wasn’t as fast as some other states. Sports fans in Kansas got their hopes up several times with the announcement of various bills, but several failed before SB 84 eventually got the job done. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly placed the state’s first sports bet, a $15 futures wager on the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. The bet won and she eventually collected $150.
How to start betting in Kansas
Getting started sports betting in Kansas is easy thanks to remote registration which allows bettors to register for a sportsbook and deposit money into their account from anywhere in the state. If you’re over 21-years-old and in Kansas, you can download your favorite sports betting app on a smartphone, deposit money, verify your identity, and begin betting instantly.
Home Field Advantage
There are no professional sports teams in Kansas, but the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats provide plenty of rooting interest for state residents, especially on the gridiron and the hardwood. Some people outside of Kansas think the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royas play their home games in Kansas, but Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium are both of course located in Kansas City, Missouri. However, there are still a ton of Chiefs and Royals fans in Kansas which is located on the western border of Missouri.
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NCAAB - Kansas Jayhawks: Since 2001, the Jayhawks men’s basketball team have been no worse than a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and they won it all in 2008 and 2022. The Jayhawks also had Final Four appearances in 2002, 2003, 2012, and 2018. While Kansas hasn’t had quite the same success on the football field, it had a nice season in 2023 going 9-4 and at one point ranked as high as 19 in the AP poll. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!
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NCAAB - Kansas State Wildcats: K-State’s men’s basketball team has turned in two consecutive winning seasons under head coach Jerome Tang after three straight losing seasons from 2019-2021. The Wildcats’ football program was featured in the AP poll the last three seasons and it’s won two bowl games since then.
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NFL - Kansas City Chiefs: Although they’re located in Kansas City Missouri, there are a ton of Chiefs fans in Kansas including Governor Laura Kelly who openly roots for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Kansas City, behind Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, has won the last two Super Bowls and will be trying to make it three in a row this season.
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MLB - Kansas City Royals: Bo Jackson and George Brett are among the best players to wear a Kansas City Royals uniform. The Royals won the World Series in 2015 thanks to MVP Salvador Perez who was the first catcher to win the award since 1992. Unfortunately, the Royals haven’t finished above .500 since that World Series, but they provide plenty of betting opportunities 162 games a year.
The Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling (KCPG) (https://ksgamblinghelp.com/) allows users to request help with gambling addiction via a chat option or FaceTime. The KCPG website (https://ksgamblinghelp.com/resources/) offers several helpful resources including links to Gamblers Anonymous where those struggling can meet with others in their community going through similar challenges. Help is available 24 hours a day for anyone in Kansas struggling with problem gambling via 800-522-4700. Each casino in the state has a separate procedure for self exclusion, so contact the casinos in your area if interested in voluntarily banning yourself from gambling at those properties.