Online Poker Kansas

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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.

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
In April 2013, a gambling and poker betting expansion bill that would drastically reduce the cost of building a casino or real money poker room in a sparsely populated region of Kansas failed by a 24-15 vote [1]
Poker
.

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.

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
  • Compatibillity
  • Editor Rating
  • Deposit Bonus
  • Very player friendly
  • Generous cashback
  • Great mobile play

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. 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

Online Poker In Kansas

[4] ↑Kansas Legislature

[5] ↑(State) House Rules in Kansas Casino

Related Pages:

Comments are closed.

Home » US Poker Laws – State by State Reviews » Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws

By
April 30th, 2018 | Last updated on November 5th, 2020
Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws
Last Updated November 5, 2020

Kansas will never be mistaken for the first state of poker, but that doesn't mean there aren't a good amount of poker players residing in the state. While most poker in Kansas used to be played around kitchen tables, in clubs and in basements, it's a fair bet that the vast majority of poker hands played in the state of Kansas nowadays take place online. Whether you're playing on your laptop, your tablet, or even your phone, you're sure to find useful information in our guide to Playing Online Poker in Kansas.

Not every state in the US is the same when it comes to online poker, but poker in Kansas falls squarely into the 'no problem' category. There are definitely US states – Washington being the first that comes to mind – where playing online poker is difficult thanks to the lack of rooms taking players from that state, but you won't face any trouble when trying to find an online poker site in Kansas. Read the reviews on this page to find out which poker sites are the best sites for players in Kansas.

Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized

Type/CodeSummary
State Code Section(s)21.64.03-09; 74.87-88; 74.98
Definition of Gambling & PlayerBet: A bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement.

Gambling: Making a bet; or entering or remaining in a gambling place with intent to make a bet, to participate in a lottery or to play a gambling device.

Online Poker/GamblingThere is little appetite for legalized online gambling in Kansas. Native American casinos are not supportive of it, and newer casinos have not yet addressed online poker and casino games with legislators. It is unlikely that Kansas will legalize online poker in the coming years.
Live PokerThere are poker rooms in most of the casinos in Kansas.
CasinosThere are several casinos operated on Indian reservations per the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. There are also a few newer casinos under state regulation, all of which permit table games like poker.
Sports BettingBills were introduced on both sides of the legislature in 2018 to legalize sports betting at racinos, but the bills did not have enough support to pass.
DFSKansas lawmakers legalized daily fantasy sports in 2015 with overwhelming support, which exempted DFS from illegal gambling laws.
Other Forms of GamblingHorse and off-track betting, lottery, bingo, charitable gambling.

Is Online Poker Legal in Kansas?

When you talk about playing at a legal online poker site in Kansas, you're talking about playing on a site that holds a valid license from a qualified jurisdiction. Unlicensed sites don't have to answer to any law, making them risky endeavors. That's why our list of top Kansas poker sites consists only of properly and legally regulated online poker rooms:

Poker Sites Open to Players From Your State
Bovada$500 Bonus3-4 Day PayoutsAccepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires
Ignition$2000 Bonus3-4 Day PayoutsAccepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires

How does the law treat online poker in Kansas? Like most states, KS doesn't have an 'online poker law,' meaning individuals are left with uncertainty regarding whether or not online poker is legal in Kansas. Questions about legal activity are best answered by professionals – not poker websites. But if you're interested in Kansas poker law for research purposes, we can help. You can review the KS state code below, and we've highlighted some aspects of Kansas law that might apply to online poker players:

Under Kansas law, making any sort of 'bet' is illegal – unless the bet takes place in a specified, regulated environment (Section 21-4303).

What is a bet? Obviously everyone has different ideas about what the word means, but it's only the legal definition that matters in this discussion. Under Kansas law, to bet is to enter into a 'bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value' (Section 21-4302).

'Commercial gambling' is also illegal in Kansas, although the term refers to what other states often call 'professional gambling' – basically, it's running an illegal gambling activity for profit (Section 21-4304).

A wide variety of activities could fall under the scope of 'commercial gambling' in Kansas, as the law identifies anyone who sets up devices, handles bets, receivings any or all of the earnings or collects the earnings as potentially liable (Section 21-4304).

Kansas online poker bill

The state of Kansas also has a very broad definition of what constitutes a 'gambling device,' a definition that goes so far as to include chips, parts of gambling devices and 'electronic devices' (21-4302(d)).

As you can already see, untangling Kansas gambling law isn't a job fit for hobbyists. If you have any concerns about playing poker online, your best bet is to consult a lawyer who is familiar with Kansas gambling law.

Will Kansas Legalize Online Poker?

If you want to play poker in KS, waiting for the government to provide a regulated poker room online, you could be holding your breath for quite some time. There have been no signals from the Kansas Statehouse that legislators intend to even consider online gambling regulation any time in the foreseeable future. That being the case, Kansan poker players should focus on selecting poker sites that hold valid licenses from other, reputable regulators.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

  • The American Gaming Association released estimates today stating Americans would wager $10.4 billion on the NCAA's March Madness in the coming weeks. The AGA noted that $295 million would be wagered legally at the Las Vegas Strip sportsbooks. Those numbers are meant to underscore the folly of the Professional and

    Read Full
  • No one won the jackpot on the $949.8 million Powerball drawing on Saturday night, meaning the next drawing on Wednesday is likely to reach an estimated $1.3 billion. The final payout will not be known until ticket sales end at 10:00 Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday night. In the run-up

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  • Down in Broward County, Florida, attorney Mason Kerns filed a class-action lawsuit against DraftKings, one of the giants of the daily fantasy sports industry. Kerns is protesting against the signup bonuses offered by DraftKings, saying they amount to deceptive advertising. The class-action suit was filed in late-January in a Florida

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  • Representatives for Castle Rock Casino Resort lobbied the Kansas legislature this week to license a $130 million casino development in Cherokee County, Kansas. The casino, if approved, will sit one mile north of I-44 directly on US400. That location will place the casino within driving range of Missouri, Arkansas, and

    Read Full

Playing Online Poker Kansas

Kansas Gambling Facts

Just like neighboring states Oklahoma and Texas, Kansas was something of a hub for gambling activity in the 19th century, as ranchers, cowboys, miners and others foraging the frontier for opportunity took the side path into various clubs and saloons. Whether via cards, dice or more complicated devices, Kansas – especially Dodge City – quickly established a reputation as a gambling destination for those heading west in search of fortune and the future.

Regulated Gambling Options in Kansas

The bulk of regulated gambling in Kansas comes via the state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering options. Some forms of charitable gambling are also permitted. The state doesn't host any tribal gambling or traditional commercial casinos, placing it somewhere near the middle of US states when it comes to the amount of available regulated gambling options.

Does Kansas Offer any Regulated Online Gambling?

Like most US states, Kansas has yet to venture into the terra incognita of online gambling regulation. While state government can obviously turn on a dime if the pressure is substantial enough, it seems quite unlikely that residents will be able to play poker at a Kansas-regulated online poker site in the near future.

Kansas Gambling & Poker Resources

Brief History of Gaming in Kansas. A report prepared by the Kansas Legislative Research Department, this concise read covers the complete topography of gambling in the state, including the history, evolution and current landscape.

Kansas Lottery. The details on current lottery happenings, statistics regarding revenue and a complete breakdown of the history of the lottery in the state of Kansas.

Kansas Historical Society: Gambling Timeline. An online exhibit that places the history of gambling in the broader context of Kansas attitudes toward morals and vice.

Online Poker Kansas

Online
.

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.

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
  • Compatibillity
  • Editor Rating
  • Deposit Bonus
  • Very player friendly
  • Generous cashback
  • Great mobile play

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. 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

Online Poker In Kansas

[4] ↑Kansas Legislature

[5] ↑(State) House Rules in Kansas Casino

Related Pages:

Comments are closed.

Home » US Poker Laws – State by State Reviews » Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws

By
April 30th, 2018 | Last updated on November 5th, 2020
Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws
Last Updated November 5, 2020

Kansas will never be mistaken for the first state of poker, but that doesn't mean there aren't a good amount of poker players residing in the state. While most poker in Kansas used to be played around kitchen tables, in clubs and in basements, it's a fair bet that the vast majority of poker hands played in the state of Kansas nowadays take place online. Whether you're playing on your laptop, your tablet, or even your phone, you're sure to find useful information in our guide to Playing Online Poker in Kansas.

Not every state in the US is the same when it comes to online poker, but poker in Kansas falls squarely into the 'no problem' category. There are definitely US states – Washington being the first that comes to mind – where playing online poker is difficult thanks to the lack of rooms taking players from that state, but you won't face any trouble when trying to find an online poker site in Kansas. Read the reviews on this page to find out which poker sites are the best sites for players in Kansas.

Kansas Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized

Type/CodeSummary
State Code Section(s)21.64.03-09; 74.87-88; 74.98
Definition of Gambling & PlayerBet: A bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement.

Gambling: Making a bet; or entering or remaining in a gambling place with intent to make a bet, to participate in a lottery or to play a gambling device.

Online Poker/GamblingThere is little appetite for legalized online gambling in Kansas. Native American casinos are not supportive of it, and newer casinos have not yet addressed online poker and casino games with legislators. It is unlikely that Kansas will legalize online poker in the coming years.
Live PokerThere are poker rooms in most of the casinos in Kansas.
CasinosThere are several casinos operated on Indian reservations per the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. There are also a few newer casinos under state regulation, all of which permit table games like poker.
Sports BettingBills were introduced on both sides of the legislature in 2018 to legalize sports betting at racinos, but the bills did not have enough support to pass.
DFSKansas lawmakers legalized daily fantasy sports in 2015 with overwhelming support, which exempted DFS from illegal gambling laws.
Other Forms of GamblingHorse and off-track betting, lottery, bingo, charitable gambling.

Is Online Poker Legal in Kansas?

When you talk about playing at a legal online poker site in Kansas, you're talking about playing on a site that holds a valid license from a qualified jurisdiction. Unlicensed sites don't have to answer to any law, making them risky endeavors. That's why our list of top Kansas poker sites consists only of properly and legally regulated online poker rooms:

Poker Sites Open to Players From Your State
Bovada$500 Bonus3-4 Day PayoutsAccepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires
Ignition$2000 Bonus3-4 Day PayoutsAccepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires

How does the law treat online poker in Kansas? Like most states, KS doesn't have an 'online poker law,' meaning individuals are left with uncertainty regarding whether or not online poker is legal in Kansas. Questions about legal activity are best answered by professionals – not poker websites. But if you're interested in Kansas poker law for research purposes, we can help. You can review the KS state code below, and we've highlighted some aspects of Kansas law that might apply to online poker players:

Under Kansas law, making any sort of 'bet' is illegal – unless the bet takes place in a specified, regulated environment (Section 21-4303).

What is a bet? Obviously everyone has different ideas about what the word means, but it's only the legal definition that matters in this discussion. Under Kansas law, to bet is to enter into a 'bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value' (Section 21-4302).

'Commercial gambling' is also illegal in Kansas, although the term refers to what other states often call 'professional gambling' – basically, it's running an illegal gambling activity for profit (Section 21-4304).

A wide variety of activities could fall under the scope of 'commercial gambling' in Kansas, as the law identifies anyone who sets up devices, handles bets, receivings any or all of the earnings or collects the earnings as potentially liable (Section 21-4304).

The state of Kansas also has a very broad definition of what constitutes a 'gambling device,' a definition that goes so far as to include chips, parts of gambling devices and 'electronic devices' (21-4302(d)).

As you can already see, untangling Kansas gambling law isn't a job fit for hobbyists. If you have any concerns about playing poker online, your best bet is to consult a lawyer who is familiar with Kansas gambling law.

Will Kansas Legalize Online Poker?

If you want to play poker in KS, waiting for the government to provide a regulated poker room online, you could be holding your breath for quite some time. There have been no signals from the Kansas Statehouse that legislators intend to even consider online gambling regulation any time in the foreseeable future. That being the case, Kansan poker players should focus on selecting poker sites that hold valid licenses from other, reputable regulators.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

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Playing Online Poker Kansas

Kansas Gambling Facts

Just like neighboring states Oklahoma and Texas, Kansas was something of a hub for gambling activity in the 19th century, as ranchers, cowboys, miners and others foraging the frontier for opportunity took the side path into various clubs and saloons. Whether via cards, dice or more complicated devices, Kansas – especially Dodge City – quickly established a reputation as a gambling destination for those heading west in search of fortune and the future.

Regulated Gambling Options in Kansas

The bulk of regulated gambling in Kansas comes via the state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering options. Some forms of charitable gambling are also permitted. The state doesn't host any tribal gambling or traditional commercial casinos, placing it somewhere near the middle of US states when it comes to the amount of available regulated gambling options.

Does Kansas Offer any Regulated Online Gambling?

Like most US states, Kansas has yet to venture into the terra incognita of online gambling regulation. While state government can obviously turn on a dime if the pressure is substantial enough, it seems quite unlikely that residents will be able to play poker at a Kansas-regulated online poker site in the near future.

Kansas Gambling & Poker Resources

Brief History of Gaming in Kansas. A report prepared by the Kansas Legislative Research Department, this concise read covers the complete topography of gambling in the state, including the history, evolution and current landscape.

Kansas Lottery. The details on current lottery happenings, statistics regarding revenue and a complete breakdown of the history of the lottery in the state of Kansas.

Kansas Historical Society: Gambling Timeline. An online exhibit that places the history of gambling in the broader context of Kansas attitudes toward morals and vice.

Online Poker Kansas

Kansas's Place in the History of Poker

While obviously a big part of poker's early days on the frontier, Kansas has also made a few modern contributions to the game of poker. It's not every state, for example, that has a game bearing its name, but Kansas can lay claim to that honor thanks to Kansas City Lowball, a draw game. In 2008, two Kansas natives made a different kind of poker historywhen brothers Blair and Grant Hinkle became the very first pair of siblings to win bracelets at the same World Series of Poker.

Kansas Online Poker Bill

Sources & Citations For This Article on Kansas Online Poker





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