DraftKings and Bally Corp. are Ready for Kansas’ Sports Betting Market Launch
With sports betting signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly, Kansas has become the 35th state to legalize the operation. As of yet, no launch date has been set, but the state wants to begin in the fall.
Sportsbooks Already Announcing Partnerships With Casinos
Dodge City’s Boot Hill Casino & Resort announced its Kansas sports betting partnerships with DraftKings and Bally Bet on Monday. Each of the four casinos is allowed to have up to three mobile skins.
Chris Reedy, vice president of Butler National Corp, stated;
“It’s an exciting time for Kansans,…the company that manages Boot Hill. The regulatory agencies will make it a priority to get sports betting operational.”
DraftKings and Bally Corp entered into separate deals with Boot Hill to gain early market access in the Bluegrass State. Sportsbook operators do this so they can be the first ones to offer their products and services when the market launches.
Boot Hill also wanted a partnership with these two sportsbooks, and DraftKings is guaranteed to have a retail sportsbook location. DraftKings is one of the most popular bookmakers in the sports betting industry. Bally Corp was also an important partnership to secure due to its regional sports network, also known as Bally Sports.
Kansas will also offer 50 retail partnerships where casinos can offer sports betting kiosks at those establishments as part of its sports betting landscape. This matter will most likely be discussed during the second phase.
What’s the Next Step for Kansas
The four casinos in the state that will be allowed to accept wagers are run by the Kansas Lottery. However, the sports betting aspect of the business will be run by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
Representatives from both operations believe that the operation will run into no problems at all. Establishing the rules and regulations for the state will also most likely have no issues in this process.
KRGC Government Relations Manager Todd Allen told a news source that the state is looking to launch by the upcoming NFL season. The United States is the country where football is the most popular sport, and the average betting volume skyrockets.
In addition to its aerospace focus, Butler National is a publicly-traded company. Reedy said the company started working with Oklahoma gaming tribes in the 1990s to generate additional revenue.
Following the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act, Butler National signed a management contract with the Kansas Lottery for one of the state’s four casinos. There the $90 million gaming facility opened in 2009.
Kansas Beats Missouri in Sports Betting Race
During both of their legislative sessions, sports betting seemed promising for both states. However, Kansas was the only one that came out as a winner. Lawmakers in Missouri will have to make another push in next year’s legislative session.
Supporters of the sports betting bill in the Show-Me State pointed out that sports bettors will continue to cross state lines to place bets throughout the year. The bill passed through the state House but couldn’t garner enough support in the Senate.
