Kansas Senate passes sports betting bill
| By Robert Fletcher
The Kansas Senate has passed a bill that would legalise both retail and online sports wagering in the US state, after some minor amendments.
Introduced in January and sponsored by the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 84, which seeks to expand the state’s Lottery Act, cleared the Senate by a vote of 26-12.
SB84 would allow the state’s four land-based casinos to open retail sportsbooks, as well as partner with up to three mobile sportsbooks.
Sports facilities in Kansas, including the Kansas Speedway motor-racing facility, would also be able to link up with casinos to launch online sports betting.
The bill also included provisions for tribal gambling, whereby recognised tribes in Kansas would be able to renegotiate gaming pacts with the state in order to legally offer sports wagering at their licensed casinos.