The Kansas state Home didn’t advance sports activities betting laws right now, however the chamber may take up the invoice subsequent week.
Scenes from the 2013 NASCAR race in Kanas. The state is mulling sports activities betting laws. (Picture: Sports activities Illustrated)
If authorized and signed into legislation, Home Invoice 2740 (HB 2740) would legalize on-line and cellular sports activities betting in Kansas and on the state’s land-based casinos, comfort shops, and racetracks. The proposal is supported by the state’s three industrial casinos, a tribal gaming entity, and different gaming pursuits within the state.
There’s additionally some opposition from the greyhound business, which perceives HB 2740 as favoring Phil Ruffin and his efforts to rejuvenate the at present shuttered Sedgwick County racetrack. HB 2740 permits sports activities betting on kiosks at Ruffin’s venue, however prohibits it at different greyhound tracks in Kansas.
In written testimony submitted to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, Jim Gartland, govt director of the Nationwide Greyhound Affiliation, and Mike O’Neil, representing the Kansas Greyhound Affiliation, explicitly determine Ruffin, claiming he’s commanding undue affect over the invoice.
That is akin to letting a McDonalds franchise proprietor write the legal guidelines on what different quick meals firms are allowed to be operated within the state,” Gartland stated.
Ruffin owns Circus Circus and Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip, and is a associate within the non-gaming Trump Resort.
How Sports activities Betting Might Shake Out in Kansas
The industrial casinos in Kansas are Boyd Gaming’s Kansas Star, Penn Nationwide Gaming’s Hollywood, and the Prairie Band On line casino & Resort. The Golden Eagle is a tribal gaming venue.
Officers from Penn Nationwide Gaming testified earlier than the Committee on Federal and State Affairs right now, noting that their firm may carry its Barstool Sportsbook cellular app to Kansas and maybe a retail location on the Hollywood.
Nonetheless, in addition they voiced concern over HB 2740 proposing a 20 % tax on cellular bets. The Penn lobbyists stated 10 %, which is nearer to the nationwide common, needs to be utilized in Kansas. The laws proposes a 14 % levy on wagers made in particular person.
Whitney Damron, a lobbyist for Hollywood On line casino on the Kansas Speedway in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, estimates regulated sports activities betting may generate $50 million in annual receipts for the state, reviews Sherman Smith for The Kansas Reflector.
Some Attract in Kansas Market
With a inhabitants of simply 2.91 million and no skilled sports activities groups, Kansas isn’t the kind of market that sportsbook operators are dying to get into.
Conversely, promoting prices on native media there are possible cost-efficient, and the state may very well be accretive to gaming firms’ high strains. Plus, the state hosts two NASCAR races per yr, and is house to the rabid Kansas College basketball fan base.
For Kansas, permitting sports activities betting may stop its residents from going to neighboring Colorado to position bets, and if HB 2740 is expedited, it’s potential Kansas may beat Missouri and Nebraska to the sports activities betting punch. Oklahoma is the opposite state bordering Kansas, however near-term passage of regulated sports activities betting laws seems unlikely there.
