Using the state of Arizona as a comparison, due to similar open wagering markets and longstanding ties to NFL and MLB teams, estimates predicted that Kansas will see $1.78bn in handle over the first 12 months.
If correct, this estimate means that Kansas sportsbooks would take in $150m per month in their first year of operations. This would place Kansas ahead of Louisana, which averaged $142.5m in handle per month between November 2021 and June 2022. It would also place it ahead of Indiana, Iowa and Wyoming, which averaged $100.1m, $32.6m and $8.7m per month respectively. This prediction is significant, given that the population of Kansas is considerably lower than that of the aforementioned states, except Wyoming. Kansas has a rich college sporting tradition which, when combined with the state’s annual Nascar race, makes the state an attractive prospect for sportsbooks and operators. The state has four casinos that will be partnering with sportsbooks: Hollywood Crossing with Barstool and FoxBet, Kansas Star Casino with FanDuel and BetMGM, Kansas Crossing with PointsBet and Caesars, and Boot Hill with Bally Bet and DraftKings.
The state is set to begin accepting sports bets on 1 September, with the official opening of the market on 8 September, one week prior to the opening day of the 2022 NFL regular season.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed the sports betting bill into law on 12 May, with the state set to see one of the quickest turnarounds from legalisation to launch.
