Less than 18 months after retail and online sports betting launched in Kansas, lawmakers in that state are considering tightening advertising guidelines to prevent sportsbook ads from being seen by minors and other at-risk groups, including those with gambling addiction.
Kansas’ law, which was responsible gambling initiatives, and already prohibits advertising directly to minors, those on the state’s exclusion lists, and those with gambling addictions.
SB 432, which is one page, was introduced Jan. 31 and referred to the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs Feb. 1. It would prohibit operators from advertising “through internet websites, other online mediums, or electronic device applications.” The bill would effectively ban advertising on social media sites.
Operators would be allowed to on their own websites as “part of content offered by an interactive sports wagering platform,” as long as holders agree to receive such advertising.
New rules would be required by Jan. 1, 2025 n1j6b
The move is part of a larger trend across legal North American sports betting states to limit advertising and protect what lawmakers and regulators view as the most “vulnerable” part of the population. Should the bill , state regulators would be required to promulgate rules by Jan. 1, 2025, and the bill would not affect advertising or marketing contracts that were in place as of July 1, 2024.
Massachusetts have the most stringent advertising and marketing deadlines in the nation. The new Ontario regulations are set to go into effect Feb. 28.
Maine regulations limit digital advertising to an operator’s platform, and in both Maine and Massachusetts, operators may not or market on college campuses or to college students and can only on television during sporting events. In Massachusetts, operators are also required to post “21+” on any ment that could be seen from a professional or college sports venue.
In addition, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko has proposed a federal ban on sports betting advertising in the U.S. The bill, introduced last August, has not gained any traction.
The Kansas legislature’s deadline to introduce bills in each chamber is Feb. 7, and the crossover deadline is Feb. 23.
