Kansas sports betting bill gives leagues a taste of what they want

Professional sports leagues scored a victory in the state of Kansas after lawmakers introduced a sports betting bill that called for an integrity fee.

On Friday, the state Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs, chaired by Sen. Bud Estes, introduced S.B. 455, which seeks to allow sports betting in the state should the U.S. Supreme Court decides to lift the ban on such wagering.

To summarize the 37-page measure, lawmakers want the Kansas lottery to oversee the conduct of sports betting while the Kansas Gaming Commission will act as the bridge between bookmakers and the professional sports leagues. The gaming commission, bookmakers and sports leagues will work side-by-side to conduct integrity-related investigations and compare information, among others.

S.B. 455 also gives Kansas Gaming Commission the final say on the restrictions on games and types of wagers. In terms of revenues, Kansas lawmakers wants no less than a 6.75% share from the sports betting operators.