History
Kansas has a rich gambling heritage, starting with the iconic saloons and poker houses of the Old West and continuing to this very day. As a result, most forms of wagering are legal in the state, although it has a complex history when appraising and passing gambling-friendly laws.
The Golden Eagle casino in Horton (owned by the Kickapoo Tribe) was the first to open its doors in Kansas, with the Indian establishment having officially launched in May 1996.
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1800 – 1974
At the heart of Kansas in the famous Dodge City, which was renowned as the primary frontier settlement in the Old West. Make no mistake; the saloons of Dodge City were dangerous places to be at the turn of the 19th century, with poker and dice games such as Hazard (which remain popular to this day) taking centre stage. Gradually, the majority of gambling games were prohibited over the course of the next 100 years or more, but this trend began to change when the state legalised charitable gaming and social games like bingo.
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1974 – 1987
The next 12 years were busy for regulators, and by 1986 Kansas voters had elected to amend Article 15, Section 3b of the Constitution and permit pari-mutuel horse and dog racing. The following year, Kansas approved and rolled out its first state lottery, with tickets being sold in 21 cities and generating an impressive $7 million before the end of 1987.
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1987 – Present
In 1995 (and following the rollout of the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act), a deal was reached to open four new casinos on tribal land. There are now five Indian casinos operating within state boundaries. The 2007 Expanded Lottery Act also allowed for the development of up to four commercial casinos and racinos with immediate effect, and despite some legislative challenges, these resorts have all opened over the course of the last decade.