Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that operators can launch retail and digital sports betting Sept. 1, making it the second-fastest state to go from legalization to live digital wagering since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
Kansas lawmakers legalized on May 12, and though the law did not become effective until July 1, both the lottery and its co-regulator, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, were already doing background work to prepare for launch.
Kansas will have gone from legal to live in 112 days. Only Iowa, at 96 days in 2019, was faster.
The launch will be one week ahead of the start of the NFL season on Sept. 8. The Kansas City Chiefs open on Sept. 11 at the Arizona Cardinals. According to a press release from the Kansas Lottery, operators can begin accepting wagers Sept. 1, and they “will officially open September 8.”