Kansas may not immediately come to mind when discussing legal gambling, yet the Sunflower State offers one of the few places in which players can legally enjoy daily fantasy sports games, horse race betting and sports event wagering without visiting casinos or betting shops. Sports betting was officially introduced into Kansas on September 1st 2022 – making Kansas one of the latest states to allow online gaming.
State history tells an impressive tale when it comes to gambling in Utah: saloons from the Old West with notable gamblers such as Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson populating its narrative are scattered throughout. Unfortunately, until recently the only legal gambling available to residents of the state was pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog races.
While Pennsylvania’s lottery and racetracks have existed for many years, in 1986 lawmakers authorized placing wagers on other sports. Shortly thereafter, casinos opened for business.
At present, real money gambling is only legal at licensed land-based casinos and sportsbooks in Maryland; online poker, keno and other forms of gaming remain illegal within its borders. Residents may, however, play for free at social and sweepstakes casinos operating within their borders which feature popular slot machines and table games with cash prize offerings.
Social and sweepstakes casinos operate differently from real-money casinos; players receive Gold Coins upon signup that can be used to enjoy free-to-play versions of popular casino games; they may even unlock Sweeps Coins which can help win real cash!
Although some lawmakers worry that online gambling could pose potential difficulties, most feel it provides safe and convenient gaming opportunities in an environment controlled by the state. They are further encouraged by evidence showing more money is flowing into state coffers from sports bets than lottery or horse racetrack transactions.
Although revenue in the state has increased, only a fraction of it goes toward addiction treatment programs. Because of this discrepancy, lawmakers such as Paul Waggoner (Republican State Representative) have called for additional support to address problem gambling as well as evaluate legal sports betting’s effects on society.
Waggoner’s bill would put more funds toward addiction treatment and create a state fund to monitor sports betting effects, yet is unlikely to pass because House and Senate lawmakers disagree over how best to handle gambling; Republicans favor higher taxes with lottery vendors offering sports betting products while Democrats prefer taking a more measured approach. Still, lawmakers remain optimistic they will reach an agreement before year’s end on an appropriate bill.