The first 11 days of sports betting in Kansas yielded more than 2.4 million bets, but despite millions of dollars in bets placed, the discount for the state is relatively limited.
After months, if not years, of anticipation and a quick effort to implement the necessary rules and regulations, Kansas launched a soft launch of sports betting on September 1.
The first 10 days brought in more than $39 million in bets placed, according to Kansas Lottery data shared with lawmakers on Tuesday.
That figure was bolstered by the start of the NFL and college football season and a NASCAR race weekend at Kansas Speedway.
More: Inmates say medical care is so bad ‘they’ll let someone die…before they try to help’
How much money is Kansas making off sports betting?
But the state won’t see much in tax revenues — though anyone who’s followed the process of drafting the sports betting law into the legislature won’t be surprised. This may interest you : USFL wins with football and fun, not politics.
10% of all sports betting revenue is siphoned off by the state and distributed among a quartet of different funds.
Of the $39 million in bets placed, revenue was only $233,351 because many gamblers took advantage of promotions that are not included in the revenue figures. That means the discount for the state government is $23,335.
Still, Kansas Lottery executive director Stephen Durrell said things usually ran smoothly
“A lot of midnight oil has been burned by a lot of people to get it done in a short amount of time,” he said.
More: Kansas lawmakers say audit shows ‘epic failure’ in spending on COVID-19 aid. This is what you need to know
After years of trying, lawmakers finally struck a deal in April to legalize sports betting through the state casinos, which can partner with third-party platforms like BetMGM or FanDuel Sportsbook to run the operations.
The Kansas Speedway, Sporting Kansas City and the state’s federally recognized tribes can also participate in the practice, and Durrell said a tribe is currently negotiating with Governor Laura Kelly’s office to offer bets.
Legalization was considered a coup as the Sunflower State defeated Missouri to its limits and siphoned gamblers from across the state line. The geofencing service used to restrict out-of-state betting found more than 100,000 Missourians who attempted to bet across state lines in the first week the service was available.
Durrell said after the meeting that data was not yet available on the percentage of Show-Me-State gamblers.
Unsurprisingly, the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas State Wildcats, and University of Kansas Jayhawks were the teams of choice — though KU football’s undefeated start may make it more popular with gamblers
More: Report outlines shortcomings in foster care system; indicate points for improvement
“Do you have any suggestions on how I can monetize my soccer team?” Senator Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan and a Kansas State fan jokingly asked Durrell. “The one I don’t support (KU) seems to be doing well.”
Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.
