GNOG seeks to expand in Kansas

Kansas sports betting is edging closer to its official launch date slated for Thursday, September 1. With the date around the corner, many sportsbooks are preparing to launch, and some are already offering people registering and preparing to bet from the state a welcome bonus, among them brands such FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings.

Now, DraftKings's subsidiary, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, LCC (GNOG) is awaiting regulatory approval and receipt of licenses to enter the Sunflower State through a partnership with Butler National Corporation. The partnership is arranged between GNOG and a Butler subsidiary that manages the Boot Hill Casino & Resort in Dodge City.

Thanks to the regulatory changes that made sports betting possible in Kansas, Butler can now expand its reach and management services by partnering with up to three sports wagering platform providers. This comes on top of the company’s existing mandate to run a retail sportsbook at the facility in Boot Hill Casino.

A spokesperson for Butler National Corporation welcomed the arrival of Golden Nugget Online Gaming to the state (subject to the customary regulatory approvement and its finalization). The company was thrilled that DraftKings would be able to deliver on its "seamless, safe, and premium sports betting experience" through GNOG.

"We are looking forward to driving new tourism and revenue for the State of Kansas into Dodge City. Sports betting at Boot Hill Casino will give guests another exciting reason to visit Dodge City," the spokesperson added. The state is poised to explode in terms of sports betting potential, even if there are only 2.91 million residents.

Presently, the gambling age in the state is set at 21 for anyone who wishes to participate in sports betting and casinos, and 18 for lottery and online horse betting products. The state also expects up to 12 online sportsbook licenses to enter the sector and compete, creating value for local customers.

Combining retail and online operations is a bread-and-butter of American legalization of sports gambling. In the early days of PASPA, it was immediately understood that the online sector must be intertwined and made more reliant on the retail one lest the latter die out due to lack of interest.

Today, 95% of all sports wagers are placed online or at least on a mobile device, but retail sportsbook remains important for brand visibility and shared experiences, such as March Madness, the Super Bowl, and other important events. GNOG is happy to have the opportunity to enter this space as well, the company confirmed.

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