Kansas Sports Betting Bill Favored By Casinos, But There’s Opposition, Too
The KS body politic House didn’t pass on sports betting statute law today, but the chamber could get hold of upwardly the government note next week.
If approved and signed into law, House Bill 2740 (HB 2740) would legitimise online and wandering sports betting in Sunflower State and at the state’s land-based casinos, convenience stores and racetracks. The proposal is supported past the state’s 3 commercial message casinos, a tribal gaming entity and other gaming interests in the state.
There’s also some opponent from the greyhound industry, which perceive HB 2740 as favoring Phil Ruffin and his efforts to rejuvenate the currently shuttered Sedgwick County racetrack. HB 2740 permits sports betting on kiosks at Ruffin’s venue, but prohibits it at other greyhound tracks inward Kansas.
In written testimony submitted to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, Jim Gartland, executive theater director of the National Greyhound Association, and Mike O’Neil, representing the Kaw River Greyhound Association, explicitly name Ruffin, claiming he’s overlooking undue influence o'er the bill.
This is akin to letting a McDonalds enfranchisement proprietor drop a line the laws on what other fast intellectual nourishment companies are allowed to follow operated inward the state,” Gartland said.
Ruffin owns genus Circus Circus and Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip and is a partner inward the non-gaming Trump Hotel.
How Sports Betting Could Shake Out inwards Kansas
The commercial-grade casinos in Kansas River are Boyd Gaming’s Kaw River Star, William Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood and the Prairie Band Casino & Resort. The Golden Eagle is a tribal gaming venue.
Officials from Penn National Gaming testified before the Committee on Federal soldier and State Affairs today, noting that their fellowship could land its Barstool Sportsbook mobile app to Kansas and perhaps a retail location at the Hollywood.
However, they also voiced worry over HB 2740 proposing a 20 percent task on nomadic bets. The William Penn lobbyists said 10 percent, which is finisher to the subject average, should follow used in Kansas. The lawmaking proposes a 14 percent impose on wagers made inwards person.
Whitney Damron, a lobbyist for Hollywood Casino at the KS Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, estimates regulated sports betting could bring forth $50 1000000 in annual receipts for the state, reports Roger Sherman David Smith for The Sunflower State Reflector.
Some Allure inwards Kansas Market
With a universe of simply 2.91 meg and no more professional sports teams, KS isn’t the type of market that sportsbook operators are dying to let into.
Conversely, advertising costs on local media there are potential cost-efficient and the land could follow accretive to gaming companies’ top out lines. Plus, the body politic hosts two NASCAR races per year and is rest home to the rabid Kaw River University basketball fanbase.
For Kansas, allowing sports betting could preclude its residents from sledding to neighboring Colorado to localize bets and if HB 2740 is expedited, it’s possible Kaw River could beat up Missouri River and Nebraska to the sports betting punch. OK is the other nation bordering Kansas, but near-term musical passage of regulated sports betting legislation appears unlikely there.