By
Amelia Walker
Senior Content Writer Updated: 22 January 2025
Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer
Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.
Kansas sports betting saw a significant slowdown in December 2024, with both handle and revenue experiencing notable declines compared to the previous month. However, the year ended strongly, with 2024 setting new records for both handle and revenue.
Kansas boasts a dynamic sports betting market with diverse options for gamblers. Numerous online and mobile operators cater to players, while a growing number of retail sportsbooks are available at brick-and-mortar casinos throughout the Sunflower State.
When discussing sports betting, “handle” refers to the total amount of money wagered on sporting events within a specific timeframe. In Kansas, hundreds of millions of dollars are wagered each month on a variety of sporting events.
Since sports betting was legalized in September 2022, Kansas residents and visitors have had the opportunity to place legal, regulated bets both online through mobile sportsbook apps and in person at one of the four licensed casinos.
December 2024 saw a sizeable drop in sports betting activity compared to November. The monthly handle reached $261.279 million, a 10.2% decrease from the record-breaking $290.969 million wagered in November. This decline was primarily driven by a 9.4% decrease in mobile handle, which fell from $270.023 million in November to $252.842 million in December.
The impact of this decline was evident in revenue figures. December saw a sharp 65.7% drop in gross gaming revenue (GGR), falling from $25.528 million in November to $8.786 million. This translated to a significant decrease in state tax revenue, which plummeted 65.6% from $2.553 million in November to $878,609 in December.
Despite the December dip, 2024 proved to be a successful year for Kansas sports betting. The state achieved a record-breaking total handle of $2,546,011,854, a 20% increase compared to the $2,121,564,412 wagered in 2023. This strong performance translated into a 27% year-over-year increase in statewide revenue, rising from $100,395,614 in 2023 to $127,453,710 in 2024.
DraftKings continued to dominate the online market in December, capturing $122,199,906 in wagers. FanDuel followed closely, generating $79,113,794 in handle. Other key players in the market included BetMGM, Fanatics Sportsbook, ESPN Bet, and Caesars Sportsbook.
While the sports betting sector experienced a notable decline in December, the casino sector demonstrated more resilience. Total casino revenues in Kansas reached $371.1 million, a slight 0.9% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.
However, not all casinos experienced a downturn. Hollywood Casino reported a modest 1.3% revenue increase, reaching nearly $15 million. Kansas Crossing Casino saw even more positive results, with revenues climbing by 5.5% to $3.51 million.
While December witnessed a significant month-over-month decline, the Kansas sports betting market demonstrated strong overall growth in 2024. The continued expansion of online wagering and the increasing popularity of sports betting among Kansas residents points towards a promising future for the industry in the Sunflower State.
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