Kansas Sports Betting: Best KS Online Sportsbook Sites

KS sports betting key developments and updates

March 10, 2023: Boot Hill Casino opens its retail sportsbook (DraftKings) just in time for March Madness.

Sep. 8, 2022: Legal Kansas sports betting officially goes live in the Sunflower State.  

Sep. 1, 2022: Kansas holds a “soft launch” for the six online sportsbooks going live in the state.  

June 20, 2022: Governor Kelly signs SB 84 into law.  

April 29, 2022: The Kansas Senate votes in favor of SB 84, 21-13. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Kelly.  

April 28, 2022: The House advances SB 84 with a vote of 73-49. The bill makes its way to the Senate.  

March 30, 2022: Senate Bill 84 and House Bill 2740 are merged by state lawmakers, reigniting hopes that legal sports betting will come to Kansas.  

Jan. 26, 2021: The Senate introduces SB 84, which would bring legal sports betting to the Sunflower State.

May 2018: The United States Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing individual states to determine whether or not to legalize sports betting.  

Kansas sports betting quick facts

Kansas sports betting promos and bonuses

The next few months are crucial for the six active online sportsbook operators in Kansas. Capitalizing on a condensed market before the state welcomes additional competition — up to 12 Kansas betting sites could be live in 2023 — is vital for building a significant player base.

One way to attract new customers is by offering enticing welcome bonuses. Of the five currently available, three are first bet insurance promos with varying levels of value. Only DraftKings and FanDuel provide something different.

Three Kansas sports betting promos and bonuses that offer high maximum value are:

• Caesars Sportsbook: $1,000 first bet on Caesars
• Barstool: $1,000 new player bonus
• FanDuel: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets

Veteran bettors who may have already signed up for one-or-more Kansas sportsbook accounts and claimed their welcome bonuses don’t have to worry, either. Operators need to keep things spicy after the sign-up offer expires, so they continue to offer unique promotions like same-game parlays, reduced juice on bets, boosted odds, and loyalty rewards.

Top Kansas sports betting sites

All Kansas betting sites are constantly competing for your attention and business. So, to stand out, they have to create unique user experiences for players signing up with their platforms. Here is what the six sportsbooks in Kansas are best known for:

Why DraftKings is the best sportsbook in Kansas

DraftKings has become to sports betting what Kleenex is to facial tissues or Google is to search engines. It initially carved out an identity with daily fantasy sports contests but has since produced the nation’s leading online sportsbook. A quick scan of its mobile app ratings among iOS and Android users — 4.8/5 for the former and 4.6/5 for the latter — proves how highly regarded its platform is on both devices.

New players in Kansas can get started with a guaranteed $200 in bonus bets when they place their first $5 wager on any sports market. They can also opt into an extra portion of the offer to earn up to $150 more in bonus bets. No DraftKings promo code is necessary to claim the offer, which tops our list of the best sportsbook promos in the state.

Following the welcome promotion, players will find DraftKings offers numerous perks, such as reduced juice, odds boosts, same-game parlays, a premier rewards system, state-of-the-art security, and best-in-class customer support.

Looking for more information? Dive into our full DraftKings review.

Other Kansas online sportsbooks and sports betting apps

Caesars Kansas 

Caesars is known for its legendary gaming empire and has now extended its reach from the Las Vegas desert to the plains of Kansas. New players can register to take advantage of their $1,000 first bet on Caesars welcome bonus. Make sure you input the current Caesars promo code — SBRBONUS1000 — to unlock the offer.

• App store ratings: 4.6 (iOS), 4.5 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: $1,000 first bet on Caesars
• Payout speed: 1-5 business days

Seeking out where to bet on sports in Kansas? Caesars Sportsbook is one of the most popular betting apps in the state — read our complete Caesars review to find out why.

FanDuel Kansas 

FanDuel may have once been considered the little brother of DraftKings, but those days have passed. Now, first-time customers can snag one of the top welcome bonuses in the industry — a bet $5, get $200 in bonus bet offer — via the sportsbook without a FanDuel promo code. Additionally, players can access a wide range of betting markets and exclusive live video streams — FanDuel is one of the best live betting sites — of select events.

• App store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
• Payout speed: 1-7 business days

Sift through our thorough FanDuel review for more information on the iconic sportsbook.

PointsBet Kansas 

PointsBet is an Australia-based sportsbook that is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. New players in Kansas can register to garner an up to $1,000 welcome offer, explore a plethora of unique bet types — such as PointsBetting — sift through hundreds of competitively-priced betting markets, and join an exclusive rewards program. No PointsBet promo code is necessary here.

• App store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: $1,000 in second chance bets
• Payout speed: 1-5 business days

Learn about unique bet types and more in our full PointsBet review.

BetMGM Kansas

BetMGM hopes its longstanding reputation will make a connection with Kansas bettors. New players can expect a first-class user experience, an easy-to-navigate app, a wide range of betting markets, live in-game betting, same-game parlays, and more.

• App store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: N/A
• Payout speed: 2-8 business days

Check out our detailed BetMGM review for a complete look at the sportsbook.

Kansas sportsbooks honorable mentions

Though these three KS sportsbooks didn’t crack our top five, reviewing each and seeing if their welcome bonuses and features are better suited to your needs is worthwhile:

• Bally Bet review
• Barstool Sportsbook review
• Golden Nugget review

Legal Kansas sports betting options

During Kansas' soft launch of legal online sports betting on Sept. 1, 2022, six sportsbooks opened their virtual doors. Bally Bet and Golden Nugget have also confirmed their intentions to launch in the state, though no specific go-live dates have been announced.

Kansas' online and mobile sportsbooks

Four commercial casinos located around the state can take sports wagers, and each can partner with up to three online sportsbooks. So, as many as 12 Kansas betting sites could be live in the near future.

Land-based KS sportsbooks

Who can bet on sports in Kansas?

Legal age

You must be at least 21 years old to wager on sports in the state of Kansas.

Mobile betting

Kansas’ four state-run casinos can each partner with up to three online sportsbooks, which means there could be 12 mobile apps available to KS bettors soon. For now, there are six active options.

Remote registration

When Kansas online sports betting launched in September 2022, remote registration was part of the package. You do not need to visit a physical location to sign up with an online sportsbook or sports betting app.

Within state borders

You do not need to be a full-time resident of the Sunflower State to utilize online Kansas sportsbooks. However, you do need to be physically within state lines when you log in and place a wager. If you aren't, geofencing software will flag your account, and you won’t be able to place a bet.

Retail sportsbooks

Four retail sportsbooks are active in Kansas: Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino, Caesars at Kansas Crossing Casino, DraftKings at Boot Hill Casino, and FanDuel at Kansas Star Casino.

Taxable winnings

While sportsbook operators are taxed at 10% of all revenue, individual Kansas sports bettors’ winnings will be taxed at 24% by the federal government and then again by the state at the marginal tax rate, which means your tax burden depends on your tax bracket. Remember, sports betting losses can offset profits, so keep an accurate accounting of all your wagers to reduce your burden at year’s end.

What you can’t bet on in Kansas

Having learned from its predecessors, Kansas permits sportsbook operators to offer odds on most events. However, there are a few categories that bettors still can’t wager on at the moment.

Politics

It is illegal to wager on politics and political events at the federal level, meaning you will not find odds to win the 2024 presidential election, for example, at any Kansas betting sites.

Entertainment award ceremonies

You can’t wager on pop culture award ceremonies like the Oscars, Grammys, or Emmys in Kansas. So, your bet on Taylor Swift's latest work to win Album of the Year will have to wait.

Esports

Betting on esports is not allowed in Kansas at this time. With the popularity of video game tournaments and influencers, this policy could change down the road.

What about Kansas college sports?

You can bet on Kansas college sports however you like. Wagers on both in-state and out-of-state teams are in play.

How to start betting in Kansas

For some, it may be a futures bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl champions. For others, it may be believing that the Kansas State Wildcats will make an even deeper run in the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Whatever your reason for starting your sports betting journey, the steps below can help guide you through its early stages.

1. Select a licensed Kansas sportsbook

The first step to sports betting in Kansas is to find a licensed sportsbook that will cater to your needs. So, you'll need to review the six options the state has to offer and assess the following: Whether or not the welcome bonus is what you’re looking for, whether the in-game offerings are worth your time, whether the bet types have enough variety, and whether customer support meets your standards.

Once you’ve found a Kansas sports betting site you like, download its correlating app to your phone.

2. Register online

The next step is to sign-up for a new account with the sportsbook, which you can do via desktop or mobile app. This process should take less than five minutes to complete.

As you register, you'll be required to provide some basic personal information, including your full name, address, email address, date of birth, and social security number. The latter verifies your identity, which can help prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name.

You’ll then need to create a unique password, typically eight or more characters and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

3. Deposit and claim a bonus

After you’ve completed the registration process, it’s time to head to the cashier to make a first deposit. Here you’ll sync your preferred banking method with your sportsbook wallet. The online sportsbooks recommended in this guide accept major credit and debit cards, bank wire transfers, and third-party services like PayPal.

Remember, it’s at this step — before you submit an initial deposit — that some sportsbooks require you to enter a promo code. If necessary, ensure you have one handy because you don’t want to miss out on welcome bonus perks.

4. Select and finalize your bet

With funds in your new sportsbook account, it’s time to tour around and check out available betting markets. Novice players may focus on the big four sports — the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL — and the three most common types of bets — moneylines, points spreads, and point totals — whereas veterans may lean towards same-game parlays, live in-game betting, teasers, and futures.

Whatever your preferred action is, add it to your bet slip. When you’re done, submit your bet slip to finalize your wager.

If you’re brand new to sports wagering, scan through our how to bet on sports guide first.

5. Withdraw your winnings

So, you’ve won your first big wager at a Kansas sports betting site and are ready to withdraw some of your winnings. Return to the cashier — where you put down your first deposit — and request a payout. The request will typically be processed within two business days, and funds will arrive in your preferred account in about five days. 

Keep in mind that if you ask for a physical check to be mailed to your residence, that can take up to 15 business days.

How we rate and review Kansas sportsbooks

Our team of experienced bettors consistently and thoroughly evaluates the top Kansas sports betting sites and apps. We aim to simplify your path to choosing a betting site by breaking down our rating and review criteria here so you can analyze the most crucial aspects of a sportsbook yourself.

Welcome bonuses and promotions

Welcome bonuses are essential for any sportsbook, as they attract prospective players and can deliver a positive first impression. These promotions come in many forms, such as deposit matches, bet and get bonuses, and first bet insurance offers. 

Beyond sign-up promos, sportsbooks offer players reduced juice, odds boosts, bonus bets, and loyalty reward programs. These perks are intended to keep users returning to the platform long-term, and the best betting sites will offer them frequently. 

User experience

Evaluating a sportsbook's user experience is subjective, but a positive one should generally be seamless and user-friendly. The app must perform without freezing or crashing, and the site should be easy to navigate. Creating a bet slip should be straightforward, and banking options should be accessible with minimal clicks. 

Variety of bet types and markets

The best Kansas sportsbooks will provide bettors access to diverse markets beyond the odds of the four major U.S. sports. Offerings for European soccer, PGA majors, tennis majors, UFC events, and heavyweight boxing bouts are some popular examples.

Once you've selected a sport or event to wager on, you'll want a wide range of bet types to pore over. Look for sportsbooks that offer live in-game betting, player props, parlays, teasers, and futures odds.

Banking options

With Kansas sports betting now legal and regulated, beaming financial data between authorized operators and players is perfectly safe. The top sportsbooks use the latest encryption software and firewall protections to ensure the security of your information. All of the best betting sites for withdrawal and deposit methods will accept major credit and debit cards, PayPal, bank wire transfers, and other e-wallet options.

Payout speed

Of the six online sportsbooks active in Kansas, most take five business days to process withdrawal requests, although asking for a physical check may take up to 15 business days. The faster the payout speed a sportsbook has, the higher the rating we give it.

Security and customer service

Ensuring the safety of personal and financial information is crucial for online sports betting in Kansas. Sportsbooks use the latest encryption software and prioritize data security to safeguard bettors’ information.

If any problems arise, Kansas sportsbooks have customer service reps available to help you find a solution. Most offer a live chat option, allowing for quicker responses than phone or email can provide.

Kansas sports betting handle

An intriguing subplot connected to sports betting revenue in Kansas is the state’s efforts to court a professional sports team — like the Kansas City Chiefs. The Attracting Professional Sports in Kansas fund earmarks a large chunk of revenue that can be put towards luring a pro sports team from one of the big leagues. While Gov. Kelly doesn’t envision accumulating enough money to sell the Chiefs on the idea of leaving Missouri after 60 years, other franchises will inevitably be looking to make a move eventually.

In the last four months of 2022, KS sportsbook operators took $718.9 million in bets. The Sunflower State is projected to have a betting handle of around $2 billion through its first full year of legal wagering.

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2022

Kansas sports leagues and teams to bet on

Contrary to popular belief, the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals are located in Missouri, not the Sunflower State. Granted, that doesn’t deter Kansas sports bettors from backing Patrick Mahomes and company to win the Super Bowl or the Royals as they attempt to take back the American League pennant. 

But while laying a few bucks down on your favorite teams is fun, make sure you're betting with your brain and not your heart. Wagering with emotion is the quickest way to drain funds. Learn how to manage your bankroll and do your homework beforehand by monitoring weather conditions, injury updates, and depth chart changes.

Most Kansas online sports betting sites will let you wager on Major League Soccer's Sporting K.C., who, unlike the Chiefs and Royals, actually play in the Sunflower State. Additionally, you'll be able to find plenty of betting markets for PGA tour events, international tennis majors, UFC main events, and heavyweight boxing matches.

Ensure you take a look at the best sportsbooks for specific sports, leagues, and events:

Responsible Kansas sports betting

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission is the governing body overseeing sports betting in the Sunflower State. The KRGC mission statement includes the responsibility to "ensure that gambling at facilities with state-owned casino games and pari-mutuel racetrack gambling is conducted with integrity." The commission handles the application process, awarding licenses, conducting regular audits, enforcing laws, and issuing fines.

The KRGC also helps with initiatives to curb problem gambling. This includes the self-exclusion program and working with operators to help players set budgets and limit gaming sessions to a specific amount of time.

The 24-hour problem gambling hotline in Kansas is 1-800-GAMBLER, and you can check out the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling website for more resources.

Sportsbooks to avoid in Kansas

With legal Kansas sports betting a reality, hitching your wagon to an offshore sportsbook is unwise. These sites are unregulated by federal and state laws and are notorious for shady business practices, such as failure to pay bettors their winnings, banking issues, and inaccurate terms and conditions tied to their promotions. 

Sports betting across the U.S.

Are you looking for information on sports betting across the U.S.? Check out our comprehensive guide to legal sports betting in the United States.

Sports betting in legal U.S. states

Sportsbooks by category

Sports betting in potential legal U.S. states

U.S. sports betting apps 

Sports betting in other regions

Ready to place your bets? Check out our list of the top sports betting sites in the US, Canada, Ontario, and the U.K. for the best odds and bonuses:

• Canada best sportsbooks (excludes Ontario)

• Ontario best sportsbooks

• British Columbia sportsbooks

• Alberta sportsbooks

• U.K. best sportsbooks