Kansas joins the sports betting bill bandwagon

cials from the state of Kansas have become the latest in 2018 proposing legislation that would legalise sports betting within their borders.

Following the lead of congresses in Massachusetts, Mississippi and most recently New York senators in all four states are wrestling with the potential consequences of the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Participation Act (PASPA), which is currently the subject of a Supreme Court review.

Should the justices decide that PASPA is unconstitutional, it will most likely be repealed and a record number of states have bills going through their respective legislatures that they hope will give them a crucial leg-up in the race to implement sports betting.

House Bill 2533, which was introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs authorises “Any sports gambling authorized by the Kansas lottery in accordance with this act shall be conducted solely on the premises of a racetrack gaming facility and shall be managed and operated by one or more racetrack gaming facility managers.”

The bill defines sports gambling as: a lottery, sweepstakes or other betting, gambling or wagering scheme based, directly or indirectly, on one or more competitive games in which amateur or professional athletes participate, or are intended to participate, or on one or more performances of such athletes in such games.

At present Kansas has no current active racetracks and pari-mutuel betting since 2008, with many industry insiders presuming that the bill aiming to jumpstart this dormant industry back into life. Crucially it makes no explicit mention of state casinos wanting to authorise sports betting or any mention of online betting.