‘It’s going to be a big thing’: Excitement greets start of sports betting in Kansas
Kansans, place your bets.
Legalized sports wagering got underway Thursday in Kansas, allowing anyone 21 years old and older within the state’s geographic boundaries to gamble on sports — even if they aren’t a resident.
Gov. Laura Kelly placed the first legal sports bet under the state’s new gambling law at Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas.
It was a $15 on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl 57.
The odds on the bet were 10-1.
Kelly spoke at Hollywood Casino ahead of the noon opening of the in-person sportsbook.
“Now Kansans will have another way to show their support for their favorite team players,” Kelly said.
She signed legislation authorizing sports betting in May, then in August publicly announced gambling would begin Sept. 1, in time for the start of the NFL’s regular season.
Prior to the noon launch, there was as flurry of activity as workers finalized setting up Barstool Sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino.
Behind the betting window, a man stood on a ladder turning on all three TVs and switching them to the sportsbook channel. Another group tested out the microphone audio for the stage. Several other employees at the counter made final changes to their booths before prospective betters start lining up behind the roped off area.
Six mobile sports betting operators launched at noon, and in-person sportsbooks were available at two locations, including the Hollywood Casino. The approved operators are Barstool Sports, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet MGM, Caesars and PointsBet.
The “soft launch” of a sports betting outlet at Hollywood Casino will be followed with the official launch set for Sept. 8, the day of this season’s first NFL game.
In Kansas, you don’t have to be in a casino to download any of the betting apps, but to make a wager you have to do so within the state’s borders.
‘Congrats on sports betting, Kansas’
The launch of sports betting is the result of four years of negotiations among Kansas legislators.
The measure that passed this spring included the fund to attract professional sports teams led to the speculation that Kansas would try to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri, a scenario that currently appears unlikely.
In addition to placing bets online in Kansas and at Hollywood Casino, wagers can be made in person at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane. Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City and Kansas Crossing Casino will eventually offer in-person betting, the Kansas Lottery has said.
Excitement over what some were seeing as a historic day for the state, led to some celebration on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas used both platforms to talk about missed opportunities for Missouri.
“Congrats on sports betting, Kansas,” he said in a message on Twitter shortly after 4 a.m. “Enjoy the increased revenue that your neighbors to the east will not see. Be kind to the many Missourians coming over to play responsibly.”
Earlier this year, Missouri legislators failed to come to an agreement to allow its residents to place bets on major college and professional sports.
Avid sports fan Nick Slagle said he believes this is a historic day in Kansas.
His first bet?
“I’m putting that first official wager in Kansas on a Kansas City Super Bowl,” he said. “I’m liking the team. Mahomes looks hungry.”
To be clear, that’s the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, winning this season’s Super Bowl.
Slagle, a 22-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, resident, said he plans to be on his cellphone at noon checking out the deals offered by betting apps.
“Sports betting will be a big thing for Kansas,” he said. “It’s going to be a big thing for Kansas City, Kansas and the surrounding area.”
Mario Lee of Lawrence attempted to bet on Super Bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs won it in 2020. Unfortunately, he was in Texas, which doesn’t allow sports betting.
“That was actually the first time where I even thought of trying to do sports betting,” he said. “At the time, I was like, ‘Man, it would be awesome if the state of Kansas would allow it.’ And here we are a couple years later.”
The 32-year-old downloaded a gambling app a couple days ago and will test the waters over lunch on Thursday and see what games are available.
There is one bet he’s making for sure: $500 on Nate Diaz in his UFC 279 matchup against Khamzat Chimaev on Sept. 10. Diaz is an underdog.
“The payout is amazing and I wouldn’t be surprised,” said Lee. “I’m a huge Nate Diaz fan, always have been, so I feel pretty confident that he could possibly pull off that huge of an upset.”
