Gambling Laws In Kansas
There are a number of Federal Laws which regulate gambling in the United States of America and none of them are perhaps as important and all-encompassing as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). These and the gambling laws in Kansas outlaw the business of gambling and facilitating bets for profit while leaving recreational bettors largely alone. The simple act of only placing a bet is not illegal as the laws intentions are to put a stop to organized crime and curb racketeering and corruption.
With these federal laws in place, there is quite a bit of room for individual states to come up with their own unique laws and regulations to expand upon the federal versions already in place. Just like the other 49 states, Kansas has taken it upon itself to further define what it means to gamble within the state's borders. This page is going to help all those living in the Sunflower State to educate themselves on Kansas' gambling laws and how they may go about placing bets in a safe and lawful manner, both online and at brick-and-mortar establishments.
In Kansas, one must know the definitions of the language before understanding the language itself in its entirety. The first important word to note is ‘Bet’ whose definition can be found in the Kansas state statutes under 21-6403. Beyond that, pay attention to the definition of ‘Gambling’ found under 21-4303, because they can mean different things. Gambling in the state of Kansas is a class B misdemeanor which could result in up to 6 months in jail or a fine up to $1000. What’s further stated in the legislation is ‘Commercial Gambling’ which involves operating a gambling house where profit is made. This is a far more serious crime which is a severity level 8 nonperson felony which could garner 11 months in prison.
Despite gambling being illegal in the state of Kansas, there are a number of exceptions as is the case with many other states. The Sunflower state hosts a state lottery as well as a few licensed gambling facilities. Kansas is also home to a number of Native American tribal casinos which operate under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which is exempt from Kansas regulations. It is also worth noting that even though all forms of gambling are illegal outside of state sanctioned facilities, including in one’s own home, that investigation and enforcement of such crimes do not appear to happen very often unless large sums of money are involved or a profit is being made from the conductors of such activity.
Just as Kansas began to relax with its gambling laws, it also constricted them further in the late 2000’s. In 2007, the state passed legislation which would allow three licenses to be issued to commercial casinos. This was great news for bettors across the Sunflower State except that in the following year, the state revoked all pari-mutuel licenses from racing facilities which were already in existence. There is no longer any greyhound or horse racing in the state even though full-fledged casinos have now been built. An odd give and take was the theme in the latter half of the decade as Kansas only exchanged one form of gambling for the other while keeping all other anti-gambling laws in place.
Land-Based Gambling In Kansas
Even though Kansas frowns upon gambling, they have provided three licensed casinos to locals in the Sunflower State. The Kansas City Speedway is now neighboring the Hollywood Casino where race fans and bettors can come together for all of the major forms of gambling just outside Kansas City. The state also boasts the locales of Sedgwick for the Kansas Star Casino and also the Boot Hill Casino in Ford. While these are relatively new additions to the state, the 4 Native American Tribes in Kansas have been in operation in the state since the 90’s while a 5th tribe from Oklahoma was able to open another casino in Kansas City. Those who wish to safely and legally gamble in the state of Kansas will find that they have plenty of options despite some of the tough laws implemented across the region.
Online Gambling In Kansas
While Kansas may have quite a bit legislation in the books prohibiting gambling, there is no mention to online gambling. Legislation has been suggested and discussed to further regulate legalized gambling but nothing has been accomplished as of yet. What this means for recreational bettors in the state of Kansas is a green light to go ahead and place wagers online since federal laws are the only governing entity on the matter. As stated at the beginning of this article, it is only the act of engaging in the business of gambling and facilitating bets for profit which is illegal and not the mere act of simply placing a bet. What this means for residents in Kansas is that they are indeed able to bet on all forms of gambling provided that they find a venue which is legally operating outside of U.S. jurisdiction as there are indeed a massive quantity of foreign based sites to choose from. Many of these sites are even designed to be frequented by American users despite their distant locations and have been hosting locals for years in a friendly, safe and reliable manner for years. Because they are outside of federal laws, locals will find that they are able to bet on anything that they wish, including but not limited to sports betting. Americans throughout the country have been utilizing this legal loophole with much success without fear or penalty while they secure winning payouts delivered straight to their home addresses and those in Kansas are no exception to that fact.
Popular Gambling Options In Kansas:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
One such online gambling site that we highly recommend is the all-encompassing Bovada.lv. Having been in business for decades to rave reviews, this online gambling site has the track record and experience to have created the best experience for American bettors. Initially created as an American entity, Bovada only moved to nearby neighboring Canada due the changes made in federal legislation in recent years. They continue on just outside of Montreal serving American bettors in every major form of gambling whether it be roulette, blackjack, Texas Hold‘em, Omaha, horse racing, NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NHL or College Basketball.
The amount of betting options are endless with this online gambling site and the security of banking transactions as well as customer support is the top dog of the entire industry as Kansas residents typically receive winnings via a check by courier within 10 business days. Putting money down on the Jayhawks or Wildcats has never been easier or safer as we strongly urge all those in the region wishing to gamble online to stick with Bovada for taking care of their bets.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age in the state of Kansas is 18 years of age or older however some casinos may have their own age restrictions set to 21 depending upon whether they are tribally or state run. For all those in the Sunflower State who wish to gamble online with one of our recommended sites, the legal betting age is 18 years or older, as most gambling sites typically stick to the ages defined within Kansas gambling code.
Best For All Gaming Types
