Prairie Band Casino & Resort and Kambi Partner for Kansas’ First Tribal Sportsbook

Article ByDavid Weir

September 20, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, Kansas Gambling News, US Gambling News

The Prairie Band Casino & Resort (pictured), owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, has revealed new details for its upcoming addition to the list of Kansas retail sportsbooks.

The Potawatomi have signed a multi-year partnership with Kambi, a leading global betting platform provider, to power the new sportsbook.

When it opens later this year, it will be Kansas’ first tribally operated retail sports betting venue. In July, the Nation negotiated a new gaming compact with the state that allowed them to offer retail betting.

“We are excited to launch our retail sportsbook as another amenity for our guests to “play your way.” This will be the first true locals’ sportsbook in Kansas,” said Chris Garrow, director of gaming for Prairie Band Casino & Resort, in a press release from Kambi.

Sports Betting Endeavours

The 35,000-square-foot Prairie Band Casino & Resort is no stranger to state firsts. The casino venue, near Topeka, was the first full-service casino in Kansas when it opened in 1998.

Today, it features 1,000 slot machines, several dozen table games, three bars, and a 400-seat bingo hall.

The collaboration with Kambi will see a new sports betting area added to that mix. It will be equipped with 10 kiosks and four bar-top terminals. These additions will feature all the top international sports betting wagers and markets, including Kambi’s Bet Builder product.

“We’re very proud to partner with Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s Casino and Resort as we continue to support tribes in their sports betting endeavors,” said Kristian Nylén, Kambi CEO and cofounder.

“Their successful and long-standing reputation in Kansas, combined with our award-winning sports betting technology, will create a one-of-a-kind experience for their current customers, while also attracting a whole new demographic.”

The Nation also intends to launch in Kansas online sports betting market at some point, but that could be a while off, as it is awaiting the results of an ongoing legal case.

Positive Comments and Questions

The decision to introduce sports betting at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort comes in response to the evident demand from the local community.

“When sports betting was legalized in Kansas last year, we received so many positive comments and questions from our guests. Mostly asking when we start offering it, and we continue to get those questions. Now, we finally will be able to answer those questions with certainty,” Garrow said.

The partnership between Prairie Band Casino & Resort and Kambi marks a pivotal moment for sports betting in Kansas, particularly for tribal casinos.

Kambi is becoming somewhat of a go-to operator for independent tribal sportsbooks across the U.S. The European platform provider is steadily growing across legal state markets.

Earlier in 2023, it provided for bettors in Kansas’ neighboring state, when WarHorse Casino Lincoln chose it as the platform provider for the very first of the new Nebraska retail sportsbooks.

Kambi also has online experience, too, if and when the Nation does look at online sports betting. It recently worked with Bally’s Corporation on the relaunch of its online betting app, Bally Bet.

Whether eventually online or solely retail, as for the moment, the Prairie Band Casino sportsbook will face stiff competition. The most popular Kansas retail ‘book is the DraftKings-powered venue at Boot Hill Casino. But FanDuel, Caesars and Penn Entertainment also offer their services in the state.

Online sportsbooks competing in Kansas include FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet (soon to be Fanatics) and Barstool Sports (soon to be ESPN Bet).