DraftKings to Launch in Kansas
A major presence in the US gambling market, sportsbook giant DraftKings has announced that it has launched its sportsbook offering in Kansas on September 1st, which happened to also be the opening day of legal sportsbook operations in the Midwestern state. It is among six licensed operators set to offer sports betting in the state.
DraftKings launched its sportsbook offering in Kansas on September 1st – the very same day that legal sportsbook operations in the Midwestern state went live. ©12019/Pixabay
Mobile Sports Betting Will Launch in Kansas on September 8th, 2022
The US sports betting market grows ever bigger as the year marches on: major sportsbook gambling operator DraftKings has announced that it launched its sportsbook offering in the Midwestern state of Kansas on September 1st, 2022 – which also happened to be the opening day of legal sportsbook operations in the US state.
The Kansas sports betting market already appears to be somewhat crowded, seeing as DraftKings is one among six sportsbook operators that have already obtained sports betting licenses in the state, largely facilitated through partnerships with existing brick-and-mortar gaming facilities.
The six licensed operators are Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet. All are permitted to offer sports betting starting from September 1st, 2022, with mobile betting launching only from September 8th, 2022.
Marking the occasion of DraftKings’ launch in the state of Kansas, DraftKings co-founder and president of DraftKings North America Matt Kalish remarked that Fall 2022 is a particularly eventful period of the year for sports betting:
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver our award-wining products to Kansas sports fans for the 2022 NFL and college football seasons. It’s an especially exhilarating time of year, and we are excited for eligible Kansans to be able to get in on all the action through DraftKings’ seamless and responsible sports betting experience.”– Matt Kalish, President, DraftKings North America, Press Release
Kansas Sports Betting Bill Permits Lottery Facility Managers to Operator Sports Betting
The skies opened up for sports betting in Kansas when Governor Laura Kelly announced the launch day of September 1st back in mid-August. The announcement arrived only three months after Senate Bill 84 was approved, authorizing sports wagering on mobile apps, in casinos and other select venues, along with historical horse racing.
Furthermore, Senate Bill 84 also allows lottery facility managers to operate sports betting in Kansas on behalf of the state’s lottery. Here is where online sports betting providers step in, seeing as this vertical is meant to take place via partnerships with said operators.
The legislation stipulates that each lottery facility manager can host up to three interactive sports wagering platforms. Licenses will be granted to operators on a one-year provisional license based on their past performance in other states. Senate Bill 84 also opens up the opportunity for tribes to run their own sports betting, opening up the path for negotiation of a new or existing gaming compact.
DraftKings Was Toying with Expanding into Puerto Rico in April 2022
Major sportsbook operator DraftKings’ ambitions do not begin and end at Kansas, however, with the provider revealing in April 2022 that it was considering to begin offering its sportsbook to customers in Puerto Rico thanks to a new deal with Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Foxwoods and DraftKings’ relationship in fact officially originates all the way back in October 2021 through the establishment of a sportsbook and iGaming platform in Connecticut. Foxwoods then went on to open its El San Juan Casino at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico’s capital city in November 2021.
Holding back both companies at the time were pending license approvals, which both believed would arrive from the Puerto Rican government in the following weeks. In the event the licenses are indeed approved, DraftKings would open a retail sportsbook within the casino, featuring all the customary offerings and amenities US sportsbook fans are accustomed to.
Matt Kalish, President of DraftKings North America, touted the operator’s relationship with both Foxwoods, as well as the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation:
“Since establishing our relationship with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods more than a year ago, we’ve seen immense success, which can be attributed to the collaborative efforts between the organizations and shared vision for providing customers with the very best. Puerto Rico is known for its rich and vibrant sports culture, and we look forward to being able to provide fans with a safe and legal form of sports betting through our retail and online sportsbooks.”– Matt Kalish, President, DraftKings North America, Press Release
For its part, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s Chairman, Rodney Butler, also praised DraftKings for being a reliable partner, promising Puerto Rican sports betting fans a bright future ahead:
“We have made tremendous strides in the sports betting space in our relationship with DraftKings, who has continued to be a valuable partner, through our online and retail experiences in the state of Connecticut. As we expand our partnership with DraftKings to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico at the Foxwoods El San Juan Casino, we are confident that we will continue to create unforgettable memories for customers and sports fans alike.”– Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Press Release
DraftKings Entered into Washington Sports Betting Market in Early 2022
And back in January 2022, DraftKings revealed that it was scheduled to enter the state of Washington’s sports betting market through an exclusive market access deal with yet another tribal betting operator – the state’s own Tulalip Tribes.
The deal stipulated that DraftKings would agree to open two retail sportsbook locations at two Tulalip Tribes casinos in the state. The sportsbook at the Tulalip Resort Casino, which was still under construction in January, is expected to feature a 5,000 square foot space with a 50 foot video wall, more than 24 kiosks, and eight ticket windows.
Tulalip Tribes chairwoman Teri Gobin celebrated the deal with DraftKings as an opportunity for the tribe to take its gaming offerings to the next level:
“We’re ready to take our gaming experience to the next level. Like Tulalip, DraftKings is committed to excellence and, together, we’re going to give sports fans a one-of-a-kind experience. We can’t wait for our customers to share our journey as we build the newest addition to our entertainment destinations.”
