Kansas Crossing Casino opens new Caesars Sportsbook and sports bar

Kansas Crossing Casino + Hotel in Pittsburg, Kansas, has opened its full Caesars Sportsbook and sports bar, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Wednesday. The celebration included a ceremonial first bet to commemorate the milestone, placed by Explore Crawford County Executive Director Dave Looby, who picked the Pitt State Gorillas to win the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2023.

Officials from Caesars Entertainment, City of Pittsburg, Crawford County, Explore Crawford County, and the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce were in attendance to celebrate the grand opening. Caesars Sportsbook was chosen by Kansas Crossing as its official sports betting partner in Kansas last year, also granting the brand the possibility of conducting mobile sports betting through its dedicated app.

"This is a big step for us as we continue adding new ways for all sports fans to enjoy the sports they love in Kansas. We're thankful for our guests' patience as we transformed this space into the amazing sportsbook and bar that it is now," said Jeff McKain, general manager of Kansas Crossing Casino. "Mixing live entertainment, sports wagering and food and refreshments is a winning combination that we cannot wait for our guests to experience."

The live betting sportsbook includes an all-new menu, décor, seating areas and 40 big-screen TVs within the bar area. Guests can place wagers in person with a cashier, or through betting kiosks. Kansas Crossing Casino officials say they expect the new sports betting kiosks to be pretty popular.

"This adds that next level of excitement," further said McKain, as reported by KOAM. "Sports wagering is just kicking off in Kansas. It's going over very well. Lots of excitement, and lots of volume with that. So to come in and basically add just one more thing to do, I think it's great."

Kansas sports wagering expands

Sports betting became legal in Kansas’ state-owned casinos after Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 84 into law last year. The four properties contracted with the state to offer sports wagering through independent platforms were Boot Hill Casino & Resort, near Dodge City; Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane; Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City; and Kansas Crossing Casino & Hotel in Pittsburg. 

In addition to casinos, SB 84 also allows sports wagering on mobile apps and other specific venues, including restaurants and nonprofit fraternal or veterans organizations. SB 84 also preserves tribal sovereignty, allowing the negotiation of a new or existing gaming compact regarding sports wagering.

In its latest full month of activity, April, sports betting revenue in Kansas rose to $9.2 million, up from $9.1 million in March. Online wagering brought in the most revenue, at $9.08 million. While the lion’s share was taken by mobile, retail wagering revenue, to which now Kansas Crossing Casino will also contribute, also increased from $54,823 to $120,895.