Kansas Is Moving Toward Sports Betting, Slowly
Published March 14, 2020 by Elana K
SB 283 would allow people aged 21 and over to place sports bets on professional and college sports online and at Kansas' land-based casinos. The move could bring in much-needed revenue to Kansas state coffers.
After two years of struggling, the Kansas Senate finally voted in favor of a bill that would legalize sports betting in the Sunflower State. In order for SB 283 to become law, it needs to be passed by the House and then receive final approval from the governor.
About SB 283
SB 283 would allow people aged 21 and over to place sports bets on professional and college sports at the state’s traditional casinos and online. The move could bring in much-needed revenue to Kansas state coffers. According to the bill, the state would receive 7.5 percent of the profits from bets placed at the physical casinos and 10% of all the profits from bets placed online. Each casino would be allowed to negotiate its own deals with online sportsbook operators.
Projections from the Kansas State Lottery estimate that the handle in the first year would range between $300 and $600 million. From that, the state would take home $3 million in taxes. One of the criticisms of the bill is the relatively small return that would be seen by the state. Sen. Tom Holland commented, “If Kansas is going to extend its gaming products, then that extension needs to be profitable for the state.”
According to the bill, tax revenue would go toward the Horse Fair Racing Benefit Fund, a newly-created White Collar Crime Fund for Attorney General investigations, and toward treatment for gambling addiction.
The House's Rival Bill
At the same time that SB 283 has been passed on to the House, the House has its own committee that is working on rival legislation. Chairman John Barker claims that the House’s bill would bring in more than just a few million dollars into state coffers. His bill would also allow retail stores to sell lottery tickets and accept sports bets. The House committee will hold hearings next month to solidify the details of its rival bill, which means that SB 283 will most likely be left sitting for some time.
