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Kansas is known more for its ravaging twisters and wheat fields than it is for its thriving gambling and real money poker scene, so most outsiders are surprised to learn that KS boasts a relatively healthy poker scene. Colts projected 2017 draft pick.
Unique to the Sunflower State is that the state's land-based casinos and real money poker gambling rooms are operated by the lottery. And as we'll soon see, one Kansas City casino in particular has been taking the Midwest gambling scene by storm. Yes, 'there's no place like home' for Kansas' real cash offline and Internet poker gamblers.
Yet, despite its pro-gambling and poker betting stance, Kansas' state officials have not yet warmed up to the idea of online gambling and Internet poker websites – quite the contrary. In fact, Kansas has gone so far as to propose criminalizing online gambling at real cash poker websites if it would help facilitate the growth of its brick and mortar casino and poker gambling industry. This has led us to believe that it won't be passing an iGaming legal Internet poker act anytime soon. That just means KS residents might have to wait a little longer for their legit Texas Hold'em poker games than gambling fans in other states.
Skip out on the intense heat or stormy weather. Take a seat on the virtual green. Signing up at a real money US poker site is a breeze for those of you in The Sunflower State.
Kansas iGaming: Past Headlines
Quick Jump
- 4 The Facts
An amendment calling for the criminalization of online gambling in the Sunflower State was included as part of the poker and casino gambling bill (Senate Bill 2055). If passed, the SB 2055 would have also banned electronic slots and other e-Games like real money video poker from pari-mutuel facilities until 2032.
The amendment to the gambling and betting bill was proposed by Kansas State Senator Jacob LaTurner, and would classify Internet poker gambling as a class B nonperson misdemeanor. Guilty parties would also be required to pay fines up to $1,000 and spend as much as six months behind bars for betting real money on poker websites. The new statues would encompass both real money Internet poker players and poker website operators.
After passing a general vote on Internet poker and lawful gambling websites in the Senate via a 26-11 margin, several of the KS state's Senators had a change of heart, reflected in the final tally. To date, legislation calling for an online gambling ban making Internet poker illegal has not been reintroduced by the Senate.
In other news, 2013 proved to be an active year for Kansas City's casino and real cash poker market [2]. In particular, the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway [3], which resides on the Kansas side of Kansas City, increased its market share from 15 to nearly 18 percent. Kansas City, Missouri casinos and real money poker rooms did not fare as well, losing nearly $100 million in annual adjusted gambling revenue from 2011 to 2013.
Comparatively, the Hollywood Casino increased its year-over-year real cash betting revenue by over $130 million. Free online craps games.
Can players from Kansas play online poker?
Kansas residents who are partial to a bit of Internet poker real money gambling will face no hurdles when signing up for one of our US real money poker websites. That's good news, especially when you consider that Kansas' volatile weather sometimes makes traveling to local casinos for a game of Texas Hold'em poker a real chore.
All of our preferred US-facing real cash poker websites do a more than admirable job of providing players with an online Internet poker gaming experience that mimics the one found in live poker rooms across KS and beyond. If anything, the real money poker action is faster, the poker betting stakes more varied and the players, well…fishier and easier to turn into prey.
- U. S. Poker Site
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Is online poker legal in Kansas?
Although an attempt was made to outlaw online gambling and real money Internet poker in Kansas, it failed to achieve the necessary votes required to pass into law. Now before you start celebrating, that doesn't exactly mean that online poker websites are legal – just that Internet poker resides in a murky gray area, unaddressed by the KS state's gambling and betting statues.
Overall, the state's real cash gambling and betting laws are fairly strict, although nowhere near as rigid as those found in some neighboring states – Missouri for example.
As always, if you have questions regarding the legality of online poker and whether Internet poker is legit for KS citizens, consult a legal professional who specializes in legal real money poker and gambling law. For now, here's a sneak peak at the Internet poker and lawful gambling statutes that could be of relevance to online poker website players:
- Kansas law defines a bet as a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement. Section 21-4302
Notice the usage of the phrase dependent upon chance. One could make an argument that the outcome of a real money poker game is not wholly reliant on chance, but that real cash poker betting revolves around skill too and therefore offline and Internet poker is exempt from the law.
However, in the more likely scenario, the KS state classifies all gambling games, including real cash poker, according to the Dominant Factor Test. According to this test, if chance is the dominant factor in determining an outcome, then real-money wagers on that outcome would be considered bets.
- Gambling and betting is classified as a class B nonperson misdemeanor. Those who possess real money poker or casino gambling devices or permit premises to be used for commercial gambling or poker betting are subject to similar charges.
- Illegal bingo operators can be slapped with a harsher penalty in KS – a class A nonperson misdemeanor.
- Profiting from commercial gambling from real cash poker betting or any other gambling game can result in a severity level 8, nonperson felony charge, as can dealing in gambling devices. Section 21-4306 Kansas' definition of gambling devices is exceedingly broad, and includes any token, chip, paper, receipt or other document which evidences, purports to evidence or is designed to evidence participation in a lottery or the making of a bet, not just real money. Section 21-4302(d)(1)
Social gambling and social real money poker betting is not specifically addressed, although the law does distinguish between those hosting a casual home game and those operating an illicit real cash poker gambling arena. That said, as long as you don't charge players to play in Kansas, you'll be less likely to face the same harsh penalties as unlicensed commercial real money poker and gambling operators.
If you'd like to review Kansas' poker betting and real cash betting state code [4] in more detail, please refer to the 'References' section.
The Facts
The history of gambling in Kansas
Kansas' colorful gambling history dates back to the early days of the Old West. In the frontier days, lawlessness and corruption ruled the land, with several of Kansas' cities becoming famous for their debauchery and real money poker scene. Of note, Dodge City evolved into an archetypical Old West town, chock full of not so legal gambling saloons with regular Texas Hold'em games, prostitutes and danger.
The first attempt to curb real cash gambling occurred in 1868. It prohibited facilities from using tables or devices for games of chance, but did not include real money poker betting. By 1895, real cash gambling was only permitted at state fairs, and eight years later slot machines were completely banned in Kansas. Despite this, underground gambling and poker betting rings ran rampant, so much so, that law enforcement agents all but gave up on curtailing the non lawful real money poker and gambling scene entirely.
In 1986, Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment on real cash gambling permitting a state-owned lottery. That same year, residents also voted in favor of what would ultimately become the Kansas Pari-mutuel Racing Act. The Kansas Racing Commission was created shortly thereafter, and the first greyhound and horse racing real money gambling facilities opened their doors to the betting public by 1990. Unique to Kansas, only non-profit organizations are permitted to operate racetracks with real cash gambling.
In 1995, five of the state's tribes were granted the right to construct and operate casinos and legal poker rooms. Soccer moneyline. The KS state's first tribal casino would open a few years later, and today several real money poker rooms and gambling casinos pepper Kansas' landscape.
Commercial gambling and real cash poker betting is not permitted in Kansas, at least not in the traditional sense. In 2007 the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act extended the reach of the state lottery dramatically, first allowing for the conversation of racetrack gambling facilities into racinos offering real money gambling and real cash poker. And then in 2010, in what would amount to an unprecedented move, the first lottery run casino in the United Stated opened its doors – in Dodge City of all places [5].
Regulated gambling options in Kansas
Thanks to the state lottery commission, Kansas is able to offer more forms of gambling than it would otherwise, including a special type that for all intents and purposes resembles regulated commercial gambling and normal real money poker. Pari-mutuel wagering and charitable gambling are also permitted, although the latter is restricted to bingo only.
Despite the fact that Kansas is friendly to land-based poker and gambling, there's no move to legalize online poker in this US state.
If you'd like to review Kansas' poker betting and real cash betting state code [4] in more detail, please refer to the 'References' section.
The Facts
The history of gambling in Kansas
Kansas' colorful gambling history dates back to the early days of the Old West. In the frontier days, lawlessness and corruption ruled the land, with several of Kansas' cities becoming famous for their debauchery and real money poker scene. Of note, Dodge City evolved into an archetypical Old West town, chock full of not so legal gambling saloons with regular Texas Hold'em games, prostitutes and danger.
The first attempt to curb real cash gambling occurred in 1868. It prohibited facilities from using tables or devices for games of chance, but did not include real money poker betting. By 1895, real cash gambling was only permitted at state fairs, and eight years later slot machines were completely banned in Kansas. Despite this, underground gambling and poker betting rings ran rampant, so much so, that law enforcement agents all but gave up on curtailing the non lawful real money poker and gambling scene entirely.
In 1986, Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment on real cash gambling permitting a state-owned lottery. That same year, residents also voted in favor of what would ultimately become the Kansas Pari-mutuel Racing Act. The Kansas Racing Commission was created shortly thereafter, and the first greyhound and horse racing real money gambling facilities opened their doors to the betting public by 1990. Unique to Kansas, only non-profit organizations are permitted to operate racetracks with real cash gambling.
In 1995, five of the state's tribes were granted the right to construct and operate casinos and legal poker rooms. Soccer moneyline. The KS state's first tribal casino would open a few years later, and today several real money poker rooms and gambling casinos pepper Kansas' landscape.
Commercial gambling and real cash poker betting is not permitted in Kansas, at least not in the traditional sense. In 2007 the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act extended the reach of the state lottery dramatically, first allowing for the conversation of racetrack gambling facilities into racinos offering real money gambling and real cash poker. And then in 2010, in what would amount to an unprecedented move, the first lottery run casino in the United Stated opened its doors – in Dodge City of all places [5].
Regulated gambling options in Kansas
Thanks to the state lottery commission, Kansas is able to offer more forms of gambling than it would otherwise, including a special type that for all intents and purposes resembles regulated commercial gambling and normal real money poker. Pari-mutuel wagering and charitable gambling are also permitted, although the latter is restricted to bingo only.
Despite the fact that Kansas is friendly to land-based poker and gambling, there's no move to legalize online poker in this US state.
The future of regulated online gambling in Kansas
No news regarding an iGaming Internet poker bill, or even the prospect of one, has made its way into recent headlines, leading us to believe that Kansas will likely not discuss the Internet gambling and real cash poker websites issue anytime soon.
Although KS State isn't opposed to gambling and Internet poker expansion, it appears fixated on the growth of its land-based casino and real money poker gambling operations. So much so, that it would be willing to ban online gambling and Internet poker betting for KS residents if that meant more live gambling facilities would be constructed.
Fun fact
Back in 2008, the real money poker playing brothers Blair and Grant Hinkle became the first set of siblings to win WSOP bracelets in the same year. Blair would take down a $2,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em poker event for over half-a-million dollars in real cash poker winnings, but it would be Grant that would win $831,279 after besting an enormous field in a $1,500 NLHE real money poker tournament.
The bottom line
Kansas is not the least likely state to legalize Internet poker, but it's certainly near the bottom when it comes to creating legal poker websites where people can enjoy betting for real money on the Internet in poker games like Texas Hold'em. The KS state's powerful lottery commission has yet to bring lottery, scratch-offs and bingo gambling purchases online, which means that the infrastructure for online gambling and Internet poker would have to be built from scratch, if a virtual legal poker website structure is ever built at all. That would be fine if real money Internet poker legislators seemed to have any interest in opening iGaming poker website discussions, but to date, they do not.
Compounding matters, despite its vast size Kansas' population of nearly 2.9 million is only one-third the size of New Jersey's, and would therefore have trouble maintaining a viable intrastate gambling operation and a big enough real cash Internet poker player pool.
Even if Kansas did eventually address the issue of real money Internet poker gambling on lawful poker websites, we can't imagine it would enter the Internet poker industry without an interstate poker website compact in the works.
References
[1] ↑Kansas Online Gambling Ban Fails
[2] ↑KC casino market continues shifting
[3] ↑Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway
[4] ↑Kansas Legislature
[5] ↑(State) House Rules in Kansas Casino
Playing Online Poker Kansas
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An Overview of the Gambling Laws in the State Of Kansas
There is a rich history of gambling in Kansas that starts with games of Hazard and Monte played by the cattle drivers, and smoky gambling dens in Dodge City. After a long stretch of prohibition, things got moving in the 1980's and 1990's with racing, tribal casinos and lottery games. In many ways Kansas is on the strict side when it comes to defining illegal gambling. However, residents do have plenty of gaming opportunities in the various licensed establishments. This page takes a detailed look at the Kansas gambling laws.
You can get an overview of how we got to the current situation first below – with my brief history of gambling in the Sunflower State. After that you can find a list of the most common gambling formats, along with information on their current legal status. Things get more detailed next, with the important excerpts from the Statutes, plus a legal timeline. Finally a summary and look at the possible future direction of Kansas gambling legislation.
Kansas Gambling Laws – A Brief History
The saloons of Dodge City were dangerous places in the 19th century, and gambling was just one of many vices enjoyed there. This was not the first gambling in Kansas territory, in fact the native Indian tribes enjoyed gambling type games for centuries. The cowboys driving cattle down to Texas also had their own favorite gambling pastimes, including Hazard, a dice game which was a predecessor of today's craps.
As we entered the 20th century, the gambling in Kansas had all but ceased – at least that which was visible to the authorities. Slots were banned early, and the prohibition era saw even limited gambling on races at County fairs considered immoral and outlawed.
The first things to be legalized according to the KS code were charity gambling and social games, which were relaxed in 1974. Twelve years later saw a double-bill for gamblers with pari-mutuel wagering on horse races (at approved tracks) licensed, and the setup of the popular State lottery. The lottery is now hugely popular and cross-State games like Powerball increase the payouts still more.
The tribes got in on the gambling action in 1995, when a deal was reached that would see 4 of them start lavish casino building projects on their own land. This resulted in all 4 opening over the next few years, providing the backbone of Kansas casino gaming to this day.
More recent developments have not been so gambling friendly. In 2009 a legal study of the Kansas Attorney General's opinion was that internet gambling is covered by the current laws. Then in 2013 a bill outlawing online gambling made it as far as a vote in the Senate, where it was fortunately defeated.
The one silver lining in these dark clouds for residents is that gambling busts are extremely rare in this State. It seems there is little appetite to expand the offerings, though little appetite for strict enforcement at the same time.
What Forms Of Gambling Are Currently Legal?
Casino Games: Yes, there are both land based and tribal casinos that offer a wide range of slots, video poker and table games.
Online Casinos: No, there is nothing in the State legislature mentioning online gambling. However an opinion from the Attorney General in 2009 clearly states that he believes the current laws to cover internet gambling in within their current format.
Live Poker Games: Yes, you can enjoy live poker games at many of the licensed casinos. Home games are not expressly permitted under Kansas law – however penalties under law are very mild for small stakes games and there is no history of this type of game being busted.
Online Poker: No, there seems to be very little appetite towards legalizing online poker games in this State, with one bill being soundly voted down in the Senate already.
Sports Betting: Limited pari-mutuel betting is allowed on track.
Lottery Betting: Yes, Kansas has a popular lottery and do participate in the inter-State pooled games too. Tellingly, you can't buy lottery tickets online in this State.
Bingo Games: Yes, very limited charity bingo games are permitted here, though each will need to be individually licensed.
Kansas Gambling Laws – Timeline and Key Statutes
Like many States, Kansas outlaw the ‘bet' part of a gambling transaction, this makes it difficult to get a carve-out for skill games (including poker) which are a mixture of skill and betting. Here is the exact definition of from the State laws:
'21-4302. Gambling; definitions.
[su_quote]'Bet' means a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement.[/su_quote]
There are then exceptions listed for certain skill or endurance tests, and the forms of gambling which have already been carved out under their own amendments including lottery, bingo, pari-mutuel betting and tribal gaming.
1974: Bingo legalized for non-profit organizations under strict licenses. In 1995 this law was amended to include ‘instant bingo' games, and in 2000 bingo regulation was transferred under the power of a new position, the Administrator of Charitable Gambling. The penalties for small time players in gambling games are mild – with a class B misdemeanor the most common. Felony charges await those organizing the games or profiteering from them.
1986: The Kansas State Lottery becomes legal after an amendment to the constitution, and one year later a new State Agency ‘the Kansas Lottery' to operate this. Today the lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the State and some huge jackpots have already been paid. 30% of the monthly revenue goes to good causes.
1986: The same year, pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog racing is given the green-light. There are currently two racetracks, which are strictly monitored by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and the State Gaming Agency. Simulcast wagering on live races from other States was introduced in 1992.
1995: Compacts were agreed with the 4 native tribes to allow class 3 gaming which includes slot machines, casino table games and poker. All 4 tribes opened casinos between 1996 and 1998. These facilities are regulated by the State Gaming Agency.
2009: Attorney General's clarification that the standing Kansas laws show that gambling on the internet is considered to be illegal is published, here is an excerpt:
[su_quote]There is no express internet prohibition but an Attorney General Opinion does provide that clearly, placing, receiving or forwarding a bet, or conducting a lottery, over the telephone or the Internet is illegal… [/su_quote]
2013: Gambling losses are no longer tax deductible in Kansas. This is actually a big blow for professional gamblers, who need to lay many bets to make a profit. Their winnings are still very much in line to be taxed!
2013: A new bill looking to expand land-based casinos and ban outright gambling online fails in the Kansas Senate. This bill would also have banned slot machines from the Kansas racetracks until 2032.
Kansas Gambling Laws – Summary and a Look at the Future
This State is not the worst place to live if you enjoy gambling, with a good selection of casinos which include poker-rooms. The definition covering betting is very broad, leading to easy interpretations that anything not specifically legal under the current code is outlawed – including internet poker and gambling in the opinion of the Attorney General.
I would not expect Kansas to be among early adopters of regulated online gambling. If anything recent bills have been more anti-gambling than loosening the laws. Once there are enough States enjoying a steady revenue stream from the online games, maybe Kansas will have another look.
Useful Resources:
Gaming Regulations
- http://krgc.ks.gov//racing-gaming-law/regulations/gaming-regulations
Gambling Law Masters – Attorney General Opinion
- http://www.gaminglawmasters.com/summary/Kansas/12.%20Update%202009/KANSAS.pdf
Online Poker Kansas Legality
Losses no longer tax deductible
History Site
Online Poker In Kansas
Gambling-Law-US
Online Poker Real Money Kansas
Kansas State Gaming Agency
