Kansas’ Prairie Band Casino eyeing sports betting launch as soon as Sept. after compact approval

The Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta, Kansas is expected to launch sports betting later this year after an amendment to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s gaming agreement with the state was approved by the federal government on Monday. 

The amendment to the tribe’s existing Class III gaming compact was approved under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Kansas Capitol Bureau spoke with Tribal Council Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick on Monday, who said that the move allows them to be on the same playing field as state casinos. 

“It was a quite cumbersome process and I didn’t really think it was going to get it done this year, but thanks to the governor’s staff, their leadership, along with the leadership of the elected members of the House and Senate, we were able to get this,” Rupnick said.

“Initially, we’re going to have a sports betting room that’s going to be located in the casino, and our hope is going to be to offer up a mobile app,” added Rupnick. Casino officials were initially aiming at a Q4 launch, but have now noted that the operations could come sooner; as early as September. 

Chris Garrow, Director of Gaming at the Prairie, offered details on the tribe’s plans last month: “We are partnering with the world’s leading odds provider and others to give our guests the finest sports betting experience. We have been doing free-to-play pick’em challenges for some time, and the results have been extremely positive.”

“The casino will have kiosks throughout the gaming floor and sportsbook. Guests who place wagers and use their player’s cards to make wagers will receive rewards in the same way they receive rewards when playing slots, table games, and bingo,” he pointed out.

The State of Kansas first legalized sports betting last year, in September. The approval opened the field for months-long negotiations with Prairie Band to amend their compact to include the new gaming activity.

Lawmakers greenlighted the tribal casino’s gaming compact toward the end of the session, in April. The final approval secured on Monday puts the tribe on course to launch sports betting on its reservation, as other tribal casinos also work on renegotiating their compacts to start sports wagering perations.