Kansas Online Gambling Laws 2024
There are currently no state or federal laws which prohibit players from participating in Kansas online gambling at legally licensed and certified gambling sites which are regulated and located outside of the United States. These options include Kansas online casinos, poker, and sports betting.
With other states legalizing state-based online gambling recently, we would not be surprised to see this change in the near future for Kansas. At this time, players looking for online opportunities will need to continue relying on legal offshore Kansas online sports betting, casinos and poker rooms.
Kansas Gambling Laws In General
In Kansas, all forms of betting are illegal except those specifically permitted by law. Kansas gambling law defines betting as entering into a bargain and agreeing that, dependent upon chance, one party stands to gain or lose something of value. Illegal gambling is a class B misdemeanor offense.
Commercial gambling - running or managing an illegal gambling activity for profit is an offense and includes setting up gambling devices, handling bets and receiving or collecting all or part of the earnings from an illegal gambling activity.
The definition of a gambling device is very broad and includes electronic devices, parts of gambling devices and even chips.
Kansas Gambling Laws Concerning Land Based Gambling
Kansas gambling law does not provide an exception for home poker games. A private game of poker between friends can run afoul of Kansas gambling law. Even home poker games where the host does not make a profit or charge a fee are illegal. In 2005 the state Attorney General ruled that poker tournaments are illegal lotteries. However, the state has many licensed land-based casinos that offer real money poker.
Kansas Online Gambling Laws
The law is silent on the issue of online gambling. Way back in 1996, the state Attorney General noted that participating or betting in a lottery on the net violates the state's gambling law. The existing gambling laws in the state do not apply to or address the issue of Kansas online poker or online casino games.
As such the only laws that will be applicable to online gambling are the federal laws on online gambling.
Presently there is no federal law that specifically bans online gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 does not apply to individual players. It provides regulatory oversight regarding how online gambling transactions can be processed. Charitable gambling is legal in Kansas but it is limited to bingo only and by approved organizations.
Players who are interested in playing bingo outside of the charitable venue can learn more about legal Kansas online bingo options.
History of Gambling In Kansas
Kansas has a long history of gambling. Gambling was very popular amongst the original settlers and cities like Omaha, Wichita, Dodge City, Kansas City and Abilene become known for their gambling saloons. In the late 1800s, the officials began to crack down on gambling.
In 1868 a law was passed making it illegal to set up any gambling device or table for a game of chance. In 1895 the state decided to restrict gambling only to fairs. Slot machines were banned in 1903.
It was in 1986 that the state took its first steps towards legalizing certain forms of gambling. In 1986 the state legalized the state lottery and pari-mutuel betting on dog and horse racing.
The state Racing Commission was set up to regulate racing. 1989 saw the opening of the first greyhound racing rack in Woodlands. Horse racing was introduced there the very next year. In 2007 the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act was passed. This Act allowed racetracks to set up slot machines and operate as racinos. The Act also authorized the construction of four state-owned resort casinos.
This Act was challenged in the Kansas Supreme Court by those opposed to the idea of state-owned casinos. The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the Act as constitutionally valid.
In 2009 casinos began to be set up in the state under the directive of the state lottery. Indian tribes in the state were authorized to set up casinos way back in 1995 but the Indian casinos took time to be built. Out of the eight casinos in operation in Kansas, six of them are Indian casinos. Kansas law allows casinos to operate 24 hours a day throughout the year.
These casinos offer almost all games that one can find in the major casinos in Las Vegas including table games like craps, slot and video gaming and real money poker rooms. Casinos in Kansas do not offer sports betting.
Efforts To Regulate Online Gambling In Kansas
In April 2013 Senate Bill 2055 which sought to ban online gambling in Kansas failed on a 24-15 vote. The bill sought to open a new casino in the southeastern part of the state besides seeking a ban on electronic slots and video games as well as online gambling. Presently there are no pending bills seeking to regulate online gambling in Kansas.
Kansas Gambling Laws
Kansas residents and visitors who would like to review the official legislative documents which address gambling laws in Kansas can do so by visiting this link: Kansas State Legislature. Here you will find the documents in their original context and language.
**This site is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as or substitute for professional legal advice, services, or interpretation. We are not lawyers and cannot provide any type of legal services.
Kansas Online Gambling FAQS
What are the legal consequences of illegal gambling in the state of Kansas?
Illegal Gambling is a class B misdemeanor offense in the state of Kansas. That can carry up to 6 months in jail and $1000 in fines. If you are charged with Commercial Gambling as a result of managing or being the operator of illegal gambling activities in Kansas, you will receive a class A misdemeanor offense that can get you up to a year in jail and $2500 dollars in fines.
What forms of gambling are legal in Kansas?
The state is home to several land-based casinos that have legal gambling entertainment. The state also allows for Pari-Mutuel gambling through the Pari-Mutuel Racing Act of 1986 where voters amended the constitution of the state to “permit, regulate, and tax” dog races and horse races throughout the state.
What is Pari-Mutuel wagering?
This is the primary form of gambling that Is used at horse and dog racetracks. In this form of wagering, participants enter their bets into a pot before the races have begun and the winnings are shared between the participants that chose the first, second and third place finishers. The track only takes a small fee from each pot and in this way, the bettors are all betting against each other instead of the house like in a casino.
What is Social Gambling And Is It Legal In Kansas?
Social gambling is a common exception made by most states in gambling law that allows for their citizens to partake in private gambling games for real money in their own homes. Games like poker are most synonymous with this law. Kansas, however, does not allow for this in the state law. This was largely a result of the state Attorney General in 2005 claiming that poker games are illegal lotteries.
What is Kansas’ History With Gambling?
Like most states, Kansas started off with a healthy appreciation for gambling entertainment. It wasn’t until the later part of the 1800’s that gambling started to lose favor. It was cracked down at first and then restricted to fairs only before slot machines were outlawed in 1903. Gambling was later outlawed entirely and it was as recent as 1986 when started to ease back on allowing some limited forms of gambling.
Has Kansas Passed Any New Gambling Legislation?
The state has yet to push forward anything regarding domestic online casinos and poker. However, there was a bill regarding domestic sports betting through brick-and-mortar venues. This bill failed to make it through the House.