Advocacy in Action – Problem Gambling Provisions Included in Kansas Sports Betting Legislation

On May 12, 2022, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 84 into law, legalizing sports betting in the state of Kansas. Read a full version of the bill HERE. The bill was originally introduced in January 2021 with minimal problem gambling provisions. However, thanks to robust advocacy by NCPG, the signed legislation now includes the following provisions:

Information for Players

The legislation requires lottery gaming facility managers to include information and tools to assist players in making responsible decisions. The legislation requires, at a minimum, the provision of:

– Prominently displayed tools to set limits on the time and money spent by a person on any interactive sport wagering platform;

– Prominently displayed information regarding compulsive gambling and ways to seek treatment and support; and

– The ability for a person to exclude the use of certain electronic payment methods if desired by the person.

Advertisements

The legislation directs the Lottery to adopt rules and regulations regarding the advertisement of sports wagering by January 1, 2023. The legislation specifies such rules and regulations should include, but not be limited to:

– Ensuring advertisements do not target children and minors, other persons ineligible to place wagers, problem gamblers, or other vulnerable persons;

– Limiting the form, content, quantity, timing, and location of advertisements;

– Requiring the disclosure in all such advertisements of the identity of the manager;

– Requiring provision of the toll-free number for information and referral services for compulsive and problem gambling; and

– Prohibiting false, misleading, or deceptive advertisements.

Self-Exclusion List

The legislation requires a lottery gaming facility manager, upon request by an individual, to restrict such individual from placing sports wagers with such manager and take reasonable measures to prevent the individual from placing sports wagers. The lottery gaming facility manager is required to submit the restricting individual’s name and information to the KRGC for the sole purpose of having such information disseminated to other lottery gaming facility managers. A manager in receipt of such information is required to restrict an individual from placing sports wagers. The winnings of an individual who has requested to be restricted would be forfeited, and such winnings would be credited to the Problem Gambling Grant Fund.

Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund

The requires, on July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter, or as soon as moneys are available, the Director of Accounts and Reports to transfer the 2 percent of the remaining moneys credited to the Lottery Operating Fund from sports wagering revenues to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund after the initial credit to the White Collar Crime Fund.

The legislation amends the law related to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund to specify that funds shall be used:

– To fund a helpline with text messaging and chat capabilities;

– For the treatment, research, education, or prevention of pathological gambling; and

– Treatment for alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addictive or co-occurring behavioral health disorders.

The legislation amends the law to require funds in the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund be used for the purposes specified above before being used to treat alcoholism, drug abuse, other addictive behaviors, and other co-occurring behavioral health disorders.

The legislation further increases the annual transfer of funds from the State Gaming Revenues Fund to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund from $80,000 to $100,000.