According to Gov. Laura Kelly, Kansas sports betting is off to a rousing start but the early revenue numbers are less enthusiastic.
Kansas sportsbooks took $160.5 million in bets during September, according to a Kansas Lottery report. However, with millions in promotional deductions taken by sportsbooks, they reported just $1.3 million in sports betting revenue during the first month of wagering, according to numbers revealed during last week’s Kansas Lottery meeting.
Kansas collected just under $130,000 in taxes during the first month. The state launched sports betting Sept. 1 after Kelly signed legislation in May.
“These revenues reinforce what we already knew: Legal sports betting is a common-sense solution that keeps Kansans’ money in Kansas and supports Kansas businesses,” Kelly said in a release before the Lottery meeting. “While legal wagering is just in its infancy, these revenues will continue to grow and benefit the state over time.”