Kansas Online Poker – Is It Legal?
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Scott Kacsmar
- September 23, 2024
In 2024, poker is still a very popular card game. But online poker players in Kansas are still waiting, like most states, for a change in the laws to legalize online poker games. While there is no shortage of land-based casinos and poker rooms in the Sunflower State to visit, things are trickier when you just want to play some poker on your mobile device.
Fortunately, we know exactly where Kansas users can go to find online poker tournaments where they can win real money today. We have tracked down the best betting sites in Kansas for poker. Below you will find what makes them shine in our grades, what to look for in an offshore casino site, and the poker laws in Kansas.
We also included a guide to land-based poker games in Kansas, online poker tips for beginners, and answers to frequently asked questions about online poker in Kansas.
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Top-Rated Online Poker Sites for 2024
Using our grading criteria at Bookmakers Review, we found the top sites for online poker for Kansas users to try today.
- BetOnline – Good variety of poker tournaments and cash games
- Everygame – Great poker software with tournaments available
- SportsBetting.ag – Generous poker bonuses and promotions
Can you legally play poker online in Kansas?
Most forms of gambling are not yet legal in the state of Kansas, and online poker games are no exception in 2023. It is not legal to play online poker in the state, but you can visit the local brick-and-mortar casinos or card rooms to play poker in person.
This is why people are turning towards online sites located offshore to fuel their internet gambling needs. While online poker laws are moving much slower than online sports betting laws, there is no specific law in Kansas to punish you for playing poker on an offshore site. That is why we are recommending you do exactly that if you want to play online poker in Kansas today.
Comparing the Top Kansas Casino Sites
We have reviewed our top four online poker sites for Kansas users below. These sites all offer more than just video poker.
1. Good Variety of Poker Tournaments and Cash Games: BetOnline
Key Features
- Varied offerings of single and multi-hand video poker
- Bad beat jackpots
BetOnline is well-known for having a variety of big online poker tournaments where you can win cash every weekend. They even allow users to suggest their own ideas for poker tournaments, but you will find plenty of choices already available.
BetOnline features Sunday Majors, Progressive Bounties, Windfall Sit & Go’s, and a Bad Beat Jackpot. You can even turn $10 into $1 million with their special Windfall game. Texas Hold’em is the most popular online poker game, but you can also play No Limit Omaha and 7 Card Stud at BetOnline.
The site is also currently offering new users a 100% first-deposit poker bonus when using BetOnline promo codes.
2. Great Poker Software with Tournaments Available: Everygame
Key Features
- Advertises the best rakeback rate (36%)
- Better video poker than other online poker sites
While perhaps not as popular as BetOnline, Everygame is another great online gambling site. It used to be known as Intertops before a site rebranding, which included a great redesign as Everygame has some of our favorite graphics in the business. Their poker software is very sharp to use, and you can also see the superiority of their software in the casino section where they have a good selection of games.
But Everygame does poker tournaments too, including the popular Sundowner tournaments at night, and every weekend has numerous other poker tournaments. You can also hone your skills with Freeroll tournaments, which you will receive automatic entry into just by making a deposit of at least $25.
Everygame promotes having the best rakeback rate in the industry at 36%, which is the amount of money paid back to the player as each game takes a cut (the rake) from the players at the start. That high rakeback rate at Everygame is just one of the numerous perks to playing poker at their site.
Currently, Everygame is offering new poker players a 200% bonus up to $1,000 and 25 free casino spins when they make their first deposit. Plus, you can use an Everygame promo code to get even more bonus funds or other benefits.
3. Generous Poker Bonuses and Promotions: SportsBetting.ag
Key Features
- Good selection of poker tournaments
- Bad beat jackpots
- Deep library of casino games
If you think SportsBetting.ag looks familiar with its 100% welcome bonus, bad beat jackpots, and a nice list of available poker tournaments, it is because SportsBetting is the sister site to BetOnline. They run on the same poker network, though BetOnline has a more established user base as it has been around longer.
But if you like what BetOnline has to offer with high limits, quick payouts, and a huge selection of poker and casino games, then you have to understand that SportsBetting.ag is one of your best choices for online poker games in Kansas.
Our Rating Methodology for the Top Kansas Sites
At Bookmakers Review, we put each online gambling site through a rigorous review to see how it performs against the metrics we deem most important in delivering the user a quality gambling experience.
A good online poker site should have various gaming options for poker players, a strong variety of banking methods, enticing welcome bonuses, useful ongoing promotions for loyal users, and good customer service and reviews.
The History of Gambling Laws in the Sunflower State
The history of gambling in Kansas is not unlike many states in the country. In 1868, Kansas banned gambling devices and tables in an effort to clean up its image. Some exceptions were later made for what you could do at a state fair, but for over 100 years, most forms of gambling were banned.
Finally, in 1986 there was approval for a state lottery and horse racing. Soon after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed, Kansas signed off on the building of several tribal casinos in the state, with the first (Golden Eagle Casino) opening in 1996.
A decade later in 2006, a bigger move was struck when the Kansas Lottery Commission agreed to oversee the construction of four commercial casinos, which would take the next 11 years to open all the brick-and-mortar casino establishments at once. But the state had its four casinos to go along with several tribal casinos.
In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, which effectively banned sports betting in the country in 1992. Now, states had the right to decide if they wanted legal sports betting or not. Kansas fought for a few years on getting the right bill to legalize sports betting, but Senate Bill 84 eventually passed in 2022 and was signed into law, clearing the way for online sports betting with licensed sportsbooks in the state. It launched in September with several operators securing a license to operate in the state.
But in 2024, there is still no law to legalize online poker and casino games in Kansas. That will have to come later.
Key Features of the Best Online Poker Sites
Whether you are wagering at online sportsbooks or finding the best online poker network, there are certain features we expect to see from a top-tier online gambling site. We go over some of those features below.
Competitive Gambling Odds
When wagering at an online sportsbook, we want to see competitive odds so we know we are getting a fair price or even a better price than if we were using a different site. This is why gamblers like to have accounts at different sites to shop around for the best deals.
Wide Variety of Betting Markets
It does not matter if you are only interested in online casino games or sports betting, you want to see the most variety possible in the available betting markets. That means an online casino that not only has video poker and slots, but a variety of table games, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, keno, and more.
Sports bettors want to see live betting markets, parlay options for single games, parlays across multiple sports, and a variety of team, game, and player props. The more you can offer at one site, the more likely we are to stay there and not choose a different online casino.
Wide Variety of Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
It is essential to offer a wide variety of banking options as people have so many ways of paying for things today. Some prefer a traditional credit or debit card while others may be willing to do a bank transfer. Many using offshore sites also prefer the use of cryptocurrency or a P2P app.
Having this banking flexibility is key in a growing age of technology where we can pay for things in so many ways. We also take note of the fees and different processing times associated with these different methods, especially for withdrawals when we are trying to collect our winnings in a timely fashion.
Generous Promotions & Bonuses
These online sites are very competitive, and one of the ways you see this best is with their welcome bonuses. Typically, a new user makes an initial deposit using a promo code, and the site offers a deposit match in bonus bets up to 100% or sometimes 200% depending on the site.
Those can be great, but they can also come with high rollover requirements. Sometimes, the best offers you get from a site are the ones that come to loyal users who keep using the site. These can be reload bonuses, which basically act the same as a deposit bonus. Just put more money into your account and get a match in bonus bets. There may be a bonus code to enter for this promo to claim it, but it is always nice when sites offer you deals like that.
The ongoing promotions can make or break how often you continue using an online gambling site after the welcome bonus dries up.
Live Dealers Available
Most of the top-rated online casinos have live dealer games where you can see a real person via video and communicate with them via text box. They will respond to you verbally through the video. You can play table games this way with decent-sized limits in place. It helps add to the feeling that you really are at a casino when you are just playing these games from home.
Quality of the User Interface
We always want to see a good user interface so that it is quick and easy to navigate between the different sections of the site to gamble. Everything should be clearly identified so that we can deposit money, build a parlay, then play some casino games or poker with no hassle.
Mobile Site Quality
Since these offshore casinos lack a downloadable native app, we are relying heavily on mobile sites to act just as well as an app. Many do in fact achieve that as you can even add some to your home screen for quick access to your account. They are optimized to run on a mobile device, meaning they are easy to read on a small screen and run without lag, which is important for enjoying casino games or placing live bets on the go.
Customer Service Options
Similar to the banking methods, we are looking for the most options possible. Users should have 24/7 customer service access with the ability to send a message either through a response system or email address, live chat with preferably a real agent and not just AI, and a phone number for more serious issues that need addressing quickly.
Site’s Security Features
Since we are providing such personal information with these sites, we want to make sure the connection is secure with SSL encryption, and that we are dealing with a highly reputable site with years of experience in handling customer data. Fortunately, the sites that rank in our lists always have strong reputations and years (usually decades) of experience in the industry. We would not recommend a shady site with a questionable reputation.
Ways to Play Poker
In the following section, we will look at the various forms in which one can play poker, whether it be traditional poker, online or in person, with friends or complete strangers.
Online Poker
Online poker games are usually in the form of tournaments or cash games that you play on an online casino against other human players. You can win a large amount of money in some of the tournaments held at sites like BetOnline. But you can also grind away on smaller games and improve your skills before tackling the big tournaments.
In-Person Retail Poker
This is your more traditional style of poker in which a person visits a land-based casino or poker room where there is a table with a dealer and other players you play against. There are four commercial casinos in the state of Kansas and they mostly all have poker tables available for this type of retail poker playing.
Casual Poker
If you just want to have a game of poker among some friends in your private residence, then that is considered a casual poker game. These are generally always legal as long as no one is taking a cut just for hosting the game, and you are not advertising the game to all comers online.
Video Poker
Video poker games are a fun alternative to regular poker because anyone can click through a game quickly and win money. There are many different variants available, with some making a certain card wild to increase the strategy involved. There are also offshore casino sites where you can play these games for free to see which ones you like best before you spend real money on them.
Retail Poker Locations in Kansas
If online poker is not your style, then Kansas has no shortage of tribal casinos and poker rooms to visit in person. Walk the gaming floor and stare other players in the face as you enjoy casino table games and more at these land-based gambling establishments. We highlight some of the most notable spots to visit below.
Boot Hill Casino & Resort
Located in historic Dodge City, Boot Hill Casino & Resort was the first state-owned casino to open in Kansas in 2009. You will find hundreds of slot machines and 16 table games, including Mississippi Stud Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Blackjack. They expect to add a retail sportsbook with DraftKings in the spring of 2023.
Golden Eagle Casino
The Kickapoo Tribe owns the Golden Eagle Casino, the first tribal casino in Kansas when it opened in 1996. Take a walk on the gaming floor and you will find plenty of bingo games, over 600 slot machines, and games like craps and blackjack.
Harrah’s Kansas City Poker Room
A trip to North Kansas City is not complete without checking out Harrah’s Kansas City Poker Room. They have 13 tables and 13 large plasma TVs in a smoke-free space where plenty of poker tournaments and events are held throughout the year. You can also enjoy bad beat and high-hand jackpots.
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway
Located on Hollywood Casino Blvd in Kansas City, you will find plenty of slots, video poker, and other fan-favorite table games, including Pai Gow poker.
Kansas Star Casino
Located on Kansas Star Drive, the Kansas Star Casino has a nice variety of table games, including blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, craps, baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud.
Ameristar Kansas City Poker Room
Located on North Ameristar Drive in Kansas City, this poker room has blackjack, craps, roulette, mini-bac, and Pai Gow poker. There is also an area for High Limit table games.
Who regulates online casinos in Kansas?
If online casinos were legal in Kansas, they would fall under the supervision of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC). The sports betting sites such as FanDuel and BetMGM had to apply for a license from the KRGC to make sure they are meeting all regulations of a fair online gaming service in the state.
But since online casinos are not legal yet in Kansas, there are none of those sites operating under the watch of the KRGC. Only the sports betting law has been passed as of 2023. If the law ever changes to allow for online poker and online casino games in Kansas, then you can bet the sites applying for those licenses will be regulated by the KRGC.
Legal Poker Sites Versus Offshore Poker Sites
Online casino sites usually fall under two categories: regulated and offshore. If a site is regulated, that means it is licensed to operate in your area. But since online casino gambling is not legal in Kansas, there is no such thing as a regulated online casino yet.
That leads you to use offshore sites, which only carry that name because they are located offshore in other countries. But since they are not in the United States, they do not need to be regulated by Kansas or any U.S. territory. They only have to follow the laws of their local jurisdictions where it is legal to play online poker and casino gambling, so they are doing what they are allowed to do. It is not against the law for you, a Kansas resident, to use these offshore sites to play online poker or other casino games.
Signing Up at an Online Poker Site in Kansas
We are going to walk you through the few simple steps it takes to sign up for an online poker site in Kansas.
Step 1. Create Your Online Poker Account
After deciding which online casino site you want to join, head to the site and find the sign-up or join link to begin the process of creating your new account.
Step 2. Verify Your Poker Account Details
Enter any personal information the site is asking you for. Be sure to enter your real name, a valid email address, and a phone number you can be reached at. You may later need to provide further identification for withdrawal purposes. Always be sure to use a unique password you are not using on any other site.
Step 3. Deposit Funds Into Your Account
With your new account ready, make your first deposit using your preferred deposit method of choice. Be sure to read about any first deposit offers before making that deposit. Always read the terms and conditions of those offers before accepting them.
Step 4. Start Playing Poker
With money in your new account, you are ready to start playing poker. Head to the casino or poker section and you may be prompted to download some free poker software depending on the site. But it will take a matter of seconds before you can start playing poker cash games or enter tournaments at sites such as BetOnline and Everygame.
Tips for Playing Poker Online
Everyone has to start somewhere, so we have included some handy tips for those new to online poker.
- Budget: Make sure you are betting responsibly and not spending more money online than you can afford to lose. Start small as you get used to how the games work. Do not jump immediately into an online poker tournament until you get some experience.
- Find your game: There are different variants of poker (Texas Hold’em and Omaha are both popular), so you will have to figure out which one you like best and master that one.
- Expect variance: Understand that there will be winning and losing streaks. Do not chase losses. Learn when to call it a night.
- Research: There are plenty of online resources to show you the odds of certain hand combinations hitting. Do your research so you can make the most mathematically sound decisions.
- Learn when to bluff (and when to fold): Sometimes it is perfectly fine to fold. Not every hand needs to be played. But you should also learn how to effectively bluff, especially if you are not playing anonymous tables and can get used to playing against certain opponents.
FAQs – Legality of Online Kansas Poker
Can I gamble online in Kansas?
Yes, but online sports betting and horse racing are the only legal forms of gambling right now in the state. For other online gambling such as poker and online casino games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, table games, etc.), you will need to use an offshore site.
Is online poker legal in Kansas?
No, you can count on two hands how many states have legalized online poker through 2023, and you would still have a few fingers left to spare. Kansas is not one of the states to legalize online poker yet. But it has not criminalized playing it online either.
Can you play poker for money in Kansas?
Yes, you can visit the many land-based casinos in Kansas and win money playing traditional poker that way. But you can also win money playing online poker games as well. You just have to visit offshore sites that are trustworthy, like the ones reviewed above.
What gambling sites are legal in Kansas?
Online sportsbooks are legal in Kansas ever since they launched in September 2022. That includes popular sports betting sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Is Bovada legal in Kansas?
Bovada does not accept player registrations from Kansas.
