Online Poker Kansas
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With our in-depth online poker site reviews you will 1) Find the best poker sites 2) Get the highest possible bonus offers from all major poker rooms&. Provides a complete overview of legal gambling in the state of Kansas. Includes current laws & statutes, historical timeline and games available.
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.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 21.64.03-09; 74.87-88; 74.98 |
| Definition of Gambling & Player | Bet: 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/Gambling | There 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 Poker | There are poker rooms in most of the casinos in Kansas. |
| Casinos | There 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 Betting | Bills 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. |
| DFS | Kansas lawmakers legalized daily fantasy sports in 2015 with overwhelming support, which exempted DFS from illegal gambling laws. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Horse 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:
| Bovada | $500 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition | $2000 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts 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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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.
Kansas’s Place in the History of Poker
Playing Online Poker Kansas
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.
Sources & Citations For This Article on Kansas Online Poker
Can You Play Online Poker in Kansas?
There is currently no legislation permitting online poker in the state.
Current Kansas Gambling Laws
Online Poker Kansas
Kansas offers a state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering options, but it is a long way from offering iGaming.
The state allowed Native American-operated casinos for decades before in 2007 introducing a bill allowing other land-based casinos as well. As of 2019, there are eight casinos with four operated by Native American tribes.
The land-based casinos allow slot and table games including poker. Other forms of regulated gambling permitted outside of these establishments include charitable bingo regulated by the Kansas Department of Revenue, state-run lottery, and prizes for skill-based activities which primarily include athletic competitions.
Fantasy sports were also legalized in Kansas in May 2015. This bill actually does very little, but at least Kansans can play daily fantasy sports, despite the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission stance that DFS is an illegal lottery. Meanwhile, horse racing ended in Kansas in 2008 when the last of the pari-mutuel licenses was revoked, although technically non-profit organizations can still apply for a license.
The prospects for online gaming in Kansas appear bleak with very little discussion in recent years and it isn't looked upon with a bright light. As an example, a gambling expansion bill introduced in 2014 sought to establish a new casino but also contained an amendment that banned online gambling and classified it as a misdemeanor. That amendment passed before the entire bill was put up for a vote and failed, with the whole process providing an indication of the currently dim view of iGaming in the state.
Little new talk of online gaming suggests that no new change will come anytime soon.
Best Online Poker Sites for Kansas Players
None at present. But you can always play poker for free with the WSOP Social App.