We’re less than two months away from the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, and the track plans to use the race to help promote Kansas sports betting.
Track officials announced Wednesday that Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will partner with Barstool Sportsbook on a retail sportsbook located inside the facility. To promote that partnership, the Sept. 11 race will be the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook.
The state’s goal is to have sports betting up and running in time for the start of the NFL season, which is the same weekend as this year’s Hollywood Casino 400.
“Our goal is to make this the best sportsbook in the Midwest,” said Rick Skinner, who serves as the vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino Kansas Speedway, in a company press release. “The Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook provides us with a powerful platform to wave the green flag on an exciting future for sports wagering at Kansas Speedway.”
What to Know About the Kansas Speedway Sportsbook?
Plans call for Barstool Sportsbook Kansas to open in September inside a temporary facility that’ll be located under the casino’s Turn 2 Sports Bar and Restaurant.
From there, Hollywood Casino and Barstool Sportsbook plan on opening a permanent facility sometime next year that’ll include a full restaurant, house games and a patio, with construction on the space planned to begin this fall.
In an recent interview with BetKansas.com, Skinner said Hollywood Casino hopes to use sports betting as a way to lure customers from Missouri.
Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said the addition of retail sports betting will give race fans another reason to flock to the facility.
“This is an exciting step forward,” Warren said in the press release. “The Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino will create opportunities to enhance fan interest and engagement, and we’re enthusiastic about the opportunity this presents.”  
The Kansas Speedway Barstool Sportsbook would be the first of two facilities the New York operator plans on launching inside racetracks, along with one at Phoenix International Raceway.
Other Kansas Stadium Retail Sportsbook Plans
No other Kansas retail sportsbooks at sporting venues have been announced, though Sporting Kansas City President Jake Reid said in June the club is interested in exploring such an option at Children’s Mercy Park.
“So in the bill we're able to have kiosks in venue as I'm sure you've seen that's going to be driven as much by our partner as it is us so depending on where that lands,” Reid told BetKansas.com. “But the short answer is yes, we would love to have [retail capabilities in-stadium].
“We’re taking a look right now with a couple designers on stadium and space and where would be the ideal spot for that to take place. But yeah, given the bill and the ability to do that, that is something that we have plans on moving forward.”
