Bally’s Corporation is set to launch its mobile sportsbook in Kansas through a deal with a Dodge City casino ahead of the implementation of pending sports betting legislation.
Bally’s will offer its Bally Bet mobile sportsbook in Kansas via a multi-year market arrangement with Boot Hill Casino & Resort.
In a statement, the Rhode Island-headquartered group said it expects that its media partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which provides it with access to 19 regional sports networks, will also attract sports fans in neighbouring states to the Kansas mobile sportsbook.
The Kansas launch – dependent on the passing of Senate Bill 84 – will see Bally’s establish a presence in its 14th US state, and the third in which it is solely operational as an online entity.
George Papanier, president and chief executive of Bally’s, said, “This relationship… provides a significant opportunity for Bally’s to enter into yet another attractive mobile sports betting market. With the approval of pending sports betting legislation in the state, we can’t wait for Kansas sports fans to engage in our best-in-class online sports betting offerings.”
All gaming in Kansas is owned and operated by the Kansas Lottery, and the arrangement, as required by law, would license, transfer or lease the necessary Bally’s mobile sportsbook elements to the Lottery to offer Kansas sports fans a premium sports betting platform.
In March, Senate Bill 84, which would legalise online and retail sports betting in Kansas, was referred to the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs after passing the Senate.
“This is an exciting time in Kansas gaming history, and as a manager for the Kansas Lottery, we are thrilled to embark on this pivotal endeavor with Bally’s,” said Clark Stewart, chief executive of Boot Hill.
“Bally’s has demonstrated impressive growth and has an outstanding operating track record. We are confident that bringing Bally’s diverse and interactive suite of online sports betting solutions to the Boot Hill Casino will significantly enhance the gaming experience for Kansas sports fans.”
SB84, designed to authorize sports wagering under the Kansas expanded lottery act, will give market regulation responsibilities to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, and land-based casinos will be permitted to establish retail and mobile sportsbooks. Some 2.0% of all sports wagering revenue in the state will fund a problem gambling and addictions grant.
Customers will get the chance to place bets on professional and collegiate sports, but would need to be 21 or over to be able to legally place a bet in the state.