The prognosis for when sports betting in Kansas will launch remains murky, less than a month before the opening kickoff of the 2022 NFL regular season.
The five-member Kansas Lottery Commission, which is charged with overseeing the rollout of wagering, met Wednesday and unanimously passed 15 rules related to sports betting. But there was no definitive start date set for the launch of Kansas mobile betting apps.
The regulations approved ranged in nature from the very definition of sports betting to ensuring Kansas’ sports betting scene complies with federal laws.
In-between, matters such as laying out who qualifies for a sports betting partnership, determining which events can and can’t be wagered on, and establishing how operators can dish out free play were among the rules discussed during Wednesday’s meeting.
The approval of those rules, which were not given to the public before or after the meeting, give operators a chance to move forward with their quest to get sports betting in place later this year.
When it happens, BetKansas.com will be the place to be for Kansas sportsbook bonuses.
Stephen Durrell, the executive director of the Kansas Lottery, cautioned the rollout date for wagering in Kansas is still unknown, as both the lottery and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission have a lot of work to do before bets can be placed.
“We hope to have this all done sooner rather than later,” Durrell said.
What Has to Happen to Get Wagering Online in Kansas?
The laundry list regulators still need to check off before operators like BetMGM Sportsbook Kansas can go live includes getting signed contracts in place with gaming facilities and their operator partners.
After that, the KRGC needs to implement a final copy of the rules that will govern sports betting, which requires feedback from the operators themselves.
The KRGC will also need to conduct background checks on all prospective licensees.
“Hopefully we’re clicking right along, but giving specific dates is something we can’t do, as much as we’d like to,” Durrell said.
Who Will Go Live in Kansas First?
So far, a pair of national sports betting stalwarts — DraftKings Sportsbook Kansas and FanDuel Sportsbook — have begun accepting pre-registration on new accounts in Kansas.
By doing so, both operators allow their customers in the state to cut out a lot of the hassle that comes with registering on launch day, so they can log in and place wagers whenever the state goes live.
Bettors who signup early for a new account with FanDuel Sportsbook Kansas will receive $100 in free bets when the operator’s mobile application goes live — whenever that may be. The deal is applicable to all new users on FanDuel’s mobile and desktop sites who register between now and the state’s launch date.
New Kansas users will also be able to take advantage of FanDuel’s “No Sweat First Bet” deal, which gives bettors up to $1,000 in free bets if their first wager settles as a loss.
The DraftKings Kansas promo offered for registering early is $100 in free bets to use on the launch day.
