Online gambling is an exciting pastime in KS and throughout the United States. This page will break down all you need to know about online gambling in Kansas including the legal side, what sites to play on, including general tips and advice.

Best real money online gambling sites in Kansas

DraftKings Kansas Best gambling site for beginners
FanDuel Kansas Best gambling site for sports betting
PointsBet Kansas Best gambling site for mobile wagering
BetRivers Kansas Best gambling site for bonuses

Below are a few of the best real money online gambling sites that will certainly offer Kansas players the best virtual experiences:

DraftKings Kansas

Established in 2012, DraftKings is among the largest daily fantasy sports providers in the United States. DraftKings is known for offering great contests in a wide variety of sports. Gambling at DraftKings will give you the opportunity to enjoy excellent and generous promotional offers.

Barstool Sports Kansas

Officially launched in September 2020, Barstool Sports is a virtual betting site that’s owned by Dave Portnoy. The betting brand started as a mobile gambling app in Pennsylvania, but it has grown into a multi-state operation. Barstool Sportsbook is rapidly increasing its geographical footprints. This Kansas sportsbook offers its new players a very generous and attractive welcome bonus offers. Also, old players are not left out, there are plenty of ongoing promotions for them to take advantage of.

BetMGM Kansas

Founded in 2018, BetMGM is a partnership between two giants, MGM Resorts International and Entain Holdings. The goal of this partnership is to revolutionize online gaming and sports betting in the United States. BetMGM is actually living up to that goal through their games, and bonus offers. We are pretty sure that BetMGM will make a positive statement in the online sports gambling Kansas industry.

Unibet Kansas

This is among the fastest-growing virtual gambling sites in Europe. Unibet has 17 years of experience in offering industry top sports betting to more than 10 million registered users across the globe. The online gambling site is a regulated operator with betting licenses in many European Union countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, Denmark, and the UK. With the operator’s wealth of experience in the iGaming industry, Kansas players can be sure of a great gambling experience.

TwinSpires Kansas

Launched in 2007, TwinSpires is a dedicated online betting platform owned by Churchill Downs. TwinSpires offers online casino games, horse race betting, and sports betting. Playing at TwinSpire will give you the opportunity to receive great bonus offers. Plus, you can also watch live HD racing videos while you bet by visiting a track’s betting menu and selecting a video link.

FoxBet Kansas

Launched in May 2019, FoxBet is a product of a joint venture formed between Flutter Entertainment and FOX Sports to offer mobile and online sports gambling in the regulated US market. FoxBet is one of its kind to step into the iGaming market. The gambling site features a wide variety of sports, competitive odds, as well as several other gambling perks that Kansas players can expect when they register here.

Can I legally gamble online in Kansas?

Online gambling is neither legal nor illegal in Kansas since it’s not mentioned in the Kansas gambling laws. Many attempts have been made by the state to suggest that virtual gambling falls within the offline rules, but nowhere in the constitution was online gambling mentioned. Several attempts to also make it illegal failed as well. This means that Kansas law enforcement does not persecute players for gambling online.

In addition, offshore online gambling sites are not regulated or prohibited by Kansas gambling laws. This means that you will not be breaking any law when you use these them, but it is not recommended to do so. The reason for this is that these offshore gambling sites operates outside of the US and you might risk not getting your money back when using them.

Kansas state lottery

Article 15 of the Kansas Constitution, as amended in 1986, gave room to the operation of a state-regulated lottery. The Act set the standard for the operation and organization of the lottery. In addition, the KLC (Kansas Lottery Commission) sets the Act, promotion and individual game rules in short-term administrative regulations at their monthly meetings.

The Kansas Lottery ticket sales started in 21 cities in 1987. “Up and Away” was the first instant game. The game had a grand prize drawing of $100,000. “Up and Away” saw first-week ticket sales of $7 million, and gradually the KS Lottery added games.

The initial success of the lottery permitted it to develop elaborate promotional campaigns, which include the “Kansas Lottery Singers”, a traveling singing group. The group traveled around the state between June and September 1988, singing popular songs for lottery promotions.

The Lottery built infrastructure in the late 1980s on the Hutchinson fairgrounds. The Lottery used this infrastructure as the Kansas lottery live studio for the game show.

In recent times, the lottery provides players with hundreds of different instant scratch card games. On top of that, they also offer second chance promotional offers via its loyalty program called “PlayOn”. This promotion gives members the opportunity to win tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other interesting experiences.

For over 11 years, the Kansas Lottery has organized the Millionaire Holiday Raffle, a $20 ticket that offers players 1 in 200,000 chances to win $1 million.

How to gamble online in KS

If you want to gamble online in Kansas, you must first register with an online gambling site and make a real money deposit. The best KS betting apps account creation process is simple.

On top of that, they accept a wide range of payment options, and their deposit and withdrawal process is easy as well. Below are the steps to create an account and fund your online gambling account in Kansas.

Step 1: Choose an online gambling site

Choosing a gambling site is the first step to getting started with online betting. However, it is essential to choose a reputable virtual gambling site with a valid license. This is important because your online gambling experience depends on the operator being legit.

Step 2: Create an account

Once you have chosen an online sports betting site to use, the next step is to create an account. Many operators display a “Create Account” or “Join Now” button on their home page, so you need to locate it and then click on it. This will redirect you to a registration page, where you will have to fill in some of your personal information.

The information required will vary from gambling site to gambling site, but it is not usually a lot. Usually, the following is all that you will be asked for.

  • Full name
  • Email
  • Date of birth
  • Phone number
  • Residential address

You will have to pick a username and password. You will be using them to sign in to your account once it’s created.

Step 3: Make a real money deposit

You will need some cash in your online betting account before you can start placing real money bets. Hence, you will have to pass through a process called depositing.

This is very simple at most leading KS virtual gambling sites, and it usually takes a few minutes. Generally, you will find a “Deposit” or “Cashier” somewhere on display when you are signed in to your account, and clicking on that will give you access to the different payment methods available for making real money deposits.

Commonly available payment solutions include:

  • Debit Cards
  • Credit Cards
  • Bank Wire
  • Ewallets
  • Check

Some top gambling sites even provide more extensive options. However, these are the most common ones that you will find in most KS online gambling sites.

Step 4: Place Bets

With a funded online gambling account you will be set to start placing bets. The exact process for placing bets varies depending on which betting site you use. However, the basic principle is usually the same for all of them.

It is just a simple case of exploring the website to find the actual gambling markets that catch your fancy, then picking your selected wagers and entering the amount you want to bet. Once you enter the amount, all you have to do is to submit your bet, sit back and wait for the outcome.

History of gambling in Kansas

Kansas has a long gambling history. Dog and horse race and pari-mutuel wagering were illegal in Kansas until 1986 when the state voters amended Article 15, Section (3b) of the KS Constitution. This amendment allows the state to approve, license, tax and regulate dog, horse and pari-mutuel wagering.

The KS Legislature passed the KPRA to approve the state voters’ will. The “Kansas Parimutuel Racing Act” (KPRA) gave birth to the Kansas Racing Commission, which is responsible for licensing and regulating racing and pari-mutuel wagering in the state. Jimmy Grenz was the first director of the Kansas Racing Commission. He took up the position in 1987 and worked till 1990.

The first commissioners were Alfred Schroeder, Phil Martin, Bert Cantwell, Kay Arvin, and Harry Anthony. All the commissioners came into office in the same year 1987. From 1987 to 2009, 25 people have served as KS Racing and Gaming commissioners. Woodlands Racetrack was the first state gambling property to be regulated by the KS Racing Commission, and it was opened in 1989. Below are major dates in Kansas’ gambling history.

  • 1986: State voters amended Article 15, Section (3b) of the KS Constitution
  • 1987: The KS Legislature passed the “Kansas Parimutuel Racing Act” to approve the state voters’ will
  • 1989: Woodlands Racetrack, the first gambling property to be regulated by the KS Gambling Commission was launched
  • 1989: Wichita Greyhound Park, the second commercial track controlled by the KS Gambling Commission was established
  • 1996: legislation to amend the KS constitution was unsuccessful in the Senate
  • 2001 to 2006: New gambling legislation was constantly proposed in the legislature almost every year
  • 2007: the state legislature was presented with the KS Expanded Lottery Act
  • February 2008: the Shawnee County district court gave its judgement upholding KELA
  • June 2008: the KS Supreme Court gave its verdict upholding the constitutionality of the state Expanded Lottery Act

Horse betting in KS

Following Kansas voters’ approval of a constitutional amendment in 1987, the state legislature legalized greyhound and horse racing. The one greyhound track and three horse racing tracks that operated in Kansas shorted down immediately after casino gambling was legalized with the 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act.

The act also allowed racetracks to provide slot machines, but at a 40 percent tax compared to the 22% tax that casinos pay. There are talks that the tracks could reopen if they are allowed to offer sports gambling. Also, if they are put on a level playing ground with casino operators for the tax rate on electronic gambling machines. An amendment to the Kansas 2020 sports gambling bill on the Senate floor lowering race tracks slot machine tax to 22 percent failed by a narrow margin.

Although online gambling is currently not regulated by Kansas, it doesn’t imply that every other form of betting is not permitted. The truth is there are many other types of gambling that are regulated by the state as we have mentioned before. Below is the complete list of all the Kansas regulated forms of gambling.

  • Casino games
  • Poker
  • Horse race gambling
  • Dog race gambling
  • Tribal Gaming
  • Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Bingo
  • Lottery

Gambling sign-up bonuses and promos in KS

Besides the comfort of gambling from anywhere, if there is anything that makes online gambling more appealing than bricks and mortar betting, it’s the available generous bonuses. At leading gambling sites Kansas players can claim lots of betting bonuses and promotional offers.

These free bets can help increase their betting funds, giving them more opportunities to play more games without putting down their own cash. Below are the common bonuses available in online gambling sites for Kansas players to claim.

Welcome bonus

This is an incentive that virtual gambling sites offer to entice new players to register with them. The truth is almost all the online gambling sites on the internet offer sign-up or welcome bonuses. These welcome bonuses come in the form of free chips to play with.

It may seem too good to be true that you can receive what is essentially free cash, but the truth is that you can. If you gamble online, you should try to take advantage of these offers whenever you can because they’re an excellent way to get more for your cash. Gambling sites usually offer welcome bonuses on the first few deposits.

Deposit bonus

A deposit bonus is when an online betting site gives you something like cash for free as a thank you for making a real cash deposit on their site. The deposit bonus is a must-use for new players or those who want to try out a new online betting site. The amount of deposit bonus is usually the percentage of your deposit. For example, if there is a 100% bonus, and you deposit $2,000 you will receive $2,000 which you can use to play.

No deposit bonus

No deposit bonus offers are another common reward given to gamblers who have set up new accounts. Gambling sites credit these gifts to your account and allow you to try the operator’s games without having to deposit any of your own cash.

This bonus money is usually not available for withdrawal unless you meet the wagering requirements that are attached to it.

Cashback

Players that consistently place their bet with the same online bookmaker will sometimes be offered a percentage of their losses back. Online gambling sites usually give players cashback on losses as a reward for being loyal customers.

Irrespective of how skilled you are at predicting winners, it is always an added advantage to receive some percentage of your losses back into your account.

Special odds

Sometimes, online bookmakers offer punters the chance to extremely improve the odds for an event. For instance, a contest handicapped at 2/1 will be given at 30/1 for the reward recipient.

This will drastically improve the payout, which is why these offers mostly come with low gambling limits, usually around $1.

Reload bonus

These types of bonus offer work in much the same way as the welcome and deposit bonuses. When you make an extra real money deposit into your already active account, the gambling site will match the deposit up to a certain amount. Also, instead of matching your deposit, they may decide to offer you free play. This actually depends on the gambling site that you are using.

Loyalty bonus

Online betting sites use these types of bonus offers to retain their loyal and faithful customers. The bonus may include things like special raffles, cashback on losses, or various other amazing prizes.

High roller bonus

Virtual betting sites prioritize keeping their biggest players the happiest. Because of this, the operator reserves exclusive bonuses for the patrons with huge bankrolls in their accounts.

These come in the form of cashback on losses, matched deposits, and a multitude of other options customized to keep their most important players satisfied and happy.

Gambling responsibly in Kansas

Despite the fact that there are plenty of forms of gambling in the state, the responsible gambling office closely monitors the state-regulated casinos to make sure that these facilities have a plan in place to handle the problem of gambling addiction.

The plans include training of all the casino staff members, provision of educational materials, access to the Kansas Problem Gambling website and Helpline number. So if you find yourself gambling too much visit the Kansas responsible gambling website or reach out to them via their helpline to get help. However, below are a few tips on how to gamble responsibly:

  • Only gamble with the funds that you can afford to lose.
  • Set gambling limits
  • Do not try to win back losses.
  • Learn the odds and rules of the game.
  • Do not borrow money to play.
  • Only gamble when you are emotionally sound.

Those are just a few tips, but what you should always do is to seek help from the appropriate authorities when you find yourself not being able to control your gambling habit. The truth is responsible gambling simply means your ability to control yourself.

That is knowing when to stop and being able to stop. The good news is that Kansas responsible gambling is always available to help you just in case you need them.

Kansas gambling taxes explained

As with most US states, gambling winnings are taxable in Kansas. They’re treated the same as income tax which is between 3.10% to 5.70% depending on your status. Whether you wager on lottery, sports, poker, or parimutuel, you will need to pay tax on your winnings.

Also, bear in mind that if you land a winning that exceeds $5,000, the state and federal tax might be automatically withheld. You are expected to file your lottery winnings and other forms of betting winnings using “Form 1040”. You’ll have to report your winnings in the area assigned for other income. Below is the rate on gambling winnings in Kansas:

  • $0 to $15,000 (Single) and $0 to $30,000 (Married) – 3.10%
  • $15,001 to $30,000 (Single) and $30,001 to $60,000 (Married) – 5.25%
  • $30,001 and above (Single) and $60,001 and above (Married) – 5.70%

FAQ

Are online gambling sites legit in KS?

No, not all online gambling sites targeting Kansas are legit. The established websites like DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and BetRivers are completely legit and used by players for gambling across America. But, offshore websites are not exactly legit as they operate outside the US laws with many not legally operating in Kansas or elsewhere.

Do online gambling sites in KS have a minimum deposit?

Yes, Kansas online gambling sites have a minimum deposit. But the minimum deposit varies across the board. This is because every KS betting site sets its minimum deposit. The Kansas betting sites’ minimum deposit is usually between $10 and $50. However, chances are you may still find a $5 deposit for some online gambling in Kansas.

Are the rules explained for beginners on KS online gambling sites?

Not all online gambling sites explain the rules for KS new users. You will not need to invest a reasonable amount of time to research and learn about the various rules. The problem is that it is a bit difficult to find all the rules in one place. However, you can always find detailed virtual gambling guides on this site.

Can I play three card brag online in Kansas for real money?

Yes, you can play three card brag online in Kansas on many of the online gambling sites. Three card brag is a popular table game throughout the world, so it’s only fitting gambling websites will have it on offer.