Kansas is not a state that shies away from betting. The Sunflower state, with a population of 3 million, allows casino gambling at its nine state regulated casinos and tribal facilities. Licensed facilities host wagering on horse racing, dog racing and pari-mutuel racing. And so it comes as no surprise that Kansas’ lawmakers are pushing to adopt legislation that will make the state the eighth in the United States to introduce a legal and regulated sports betting industry.
Efforts to do so are ongoing. The latest attempt was made by Rep. Jan Kessinger who asked lawmakers to vote on a bill that would have advanced the issue. HB2792 would have allowed the Kansas State Lottery to offer sports betting. It would have brought in some $75 million each year, based on a tax rate of 6.75%. Sports betting would have been allowed at all existing gambling facilities, including casinos and via mobile devices.
Unfortunately, Kessinger’s bill died in the last session, but that does not mean that he has given up on the idea – not by a long shot.
Over the past week, lawmakers attended a Special Committee on Federal and State Affairs and heard from gaming regulators, legal experts and others about the introduction of sports betting in Kansas. The committee will evaluate the impact of the US Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and will consider legislation in support of sports betting in Kansas.
Rep. Kessinger believes that sports betting would work well in social settings such as bars and restaurants.
“It will generate more excitement and interest in sports, which I think will drive more traffic into these social settings, generating jobs and more revenue from taxes of food and drink sales,” he said. “There are a lot of different opportunities there.”
Although no legislation is planned to be introduced in the upcoming January session, Rep. Kessinger and others are working hard behind the scenes to make sports betting in Kansas a reality.
