Boot Hill Casino in Kansas, which had previous market access deals with DraftKings and Bally Bet, announced Monday that it had reached Kansas sports betting partnership agreements with the two sportsbooks.
Kansas legalized sports betting last week when Gov. Laura Kelly signed SB 84 into law. The state hopes to launch the sports betting market this fall to capture wagering on the NFL. The law goes into effect on July 1.
Last June, Bally's Corp. announced that it had entered into a market access deal with Boot Hill. At the time, Bally’s said in a news release that Boot Hill would implement Bally’s mobile sportsbook — Bally Bet Kansas — when online sports betting was legalized in Kansas.
In November 2021, DraftKings announced a similar market access deal. The access agreement was a step toward the partnership and will help make DraftKings Sportsbook Kansas available for online betting in the state.
First the access agreements from last year, then Monday’s announced sports betting partnerships, give Bally Bet and DraftKings solid footing to be able to launch in Kansas when the market goes live.
"We worked diligently to find partners that would bring Kansans a seamless, safe and premium sports betting experience," Clark Stewart, CEO of Butler National Corp., said in a news release. "We are ready to work with DraftKings and Bally's to make sports wagering available in Kansas.
"We are hopeful to try to bring mobile sports betting to Kansans by football season.”
Operators Look Forward to Market Launching
“With the passage of mobile sports betting legislation in Kansas, DraftKings is excited for the opportunity to enter the state pending licensure and regulatory approvals," Griffin Finan, vice president of government affairs and associate general counsel for DraftKings, said in the release. "Together with Boot Hill Casino & Resort, we look forward to engaging with Kansans and providing them with a world-class sports betting experience." Since this interview, a DraftKings Kansas promo has been announced for all new bettors who pre-register in the state.
Bally Sports already has a broadcast footprint in Kansas.
"We are pleased that Kansas has now legalized sports betting, joining an increasing number of states across the nation. We look forward to working with our partners at Boot Hill Casino & Resort to bring the Bally's online gaming experience to Kansans," Adi Dhandhania, chief operating officer of North America for Bally's Interactive, said in the release.
What Does the Kansas Sports Betting Law Allow?
The new law permits the four state-owned casinos and professional sports teams to partner with mobile and retail sportsbook operators.
Under the law, 80% of gaming-related revenue could be allocated for a professional sports fund meant to attract the Chiefs from Missouri to Kansas. Legislation to legalize sports betting in Missouri failed last week.
“Legalizing sports betting will bring more revenue to our state and grow our economy,” Kelly said in a news release after signing the bill. “This is another mechanism that casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues can now utilize to attract Kansans to their establishments.”
Other Operators Eye Kansas
It’s not a surprise that DraftKings and Bally Bet want to be live in the market when it launches after reaching access agreements with Boot Hill last year.
Penn National Gaming, operator of Kansas Barstool Sportsbook and theScore Bet, also runs Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and Hollywood Casino St. Louis, signaling that it will want into the market with either app.
BetMGM also wants to be in Kansas and MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle confirmed the interest during a recent earnings call.
You can expect there to be more announcements as Kansas sports betting apps move closer to a launch date.
