Governor signs bill authorizing sports betting in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed S.B. 84, which authorizes sports betting in the state.

The house and senate signed the bill in the wee hours two weeks ago. As recently as yesterday the governor had said she hadn’t decided whether to sign it or not.

The bill requires that a background check be in place by August and an approval process in place by September, with the hope that it will be up and running in time for football season.

The bill that the governor signed today “dedicates most of the the state’s share of revenues from the new gambling to efforts to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri to the Kansas side of the metropolitan,” the AP continues.

“The new law will allow people in the state to use cellphone or computer apps to bet on sporting events and to place bets at state-owned casinos or up to 50 other locations chosen by each casino,” the AP adds.

The new law will be a boon for Kansas casinos like Hollywood Casino at the Legends, where they’ve already set aside an area in anticipation.

It could also bring people and business to places in Kansas with no casino in sight. That’s because it also allows sports betting on cell phones, but only if you are in Kansas when you are on the phone. The programs used have a location tracker to be sure of that.

For previous coverage out of Topeka about the bill, click here.

Missouri State Senator Denny Hoskins tweeted his update on the likelihood (or lack thereof) of Missouri legalizing sports gambling this legislative session.

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