Kansas Casino Revenue Rises to $37.7M in May, up 4.4% YoY

Kansas’ four commercial casinos reported $37.7 million in casino revenue for May, up 4.4% compared to last year’s figure of $36.1 million.

The figures, published by the Kansas Lottery, also revealed that 2025 year-to-date revenue for the first five months increased year-on-year, from $375 million to $384.4 million, a 2.5% rise. 

Kansas Star and Hollywood Casino Hit $15M in May

Kansas Star Casino was among the top performers of May, reporting $15.1 million in revenue, up from $14 million the previous year, reflecting a strong 7.7% year-on-year increase. Following this, Hollywood Casino came in second, which generated $15 million, a 3.4% gain from May 2024’s $14.5 million. 

The statewide gain was also aided by Kansas Crossing Casino, which made $3.7 million this May compared to $3.5 million last year, a 4.6% increase. 

In contrast, Boot Hill Casino was the only casino to experience a drop in revenue last month, falling 4% year-on-year from $4.1 million to $3.9 million.

Kansas to Negotiate Gaming Compact with Wyandotte Nation

As revenue increases across existing casinos, generating $37.7 million in May 2025 alone, a legal shift may soon reform the state’s gaming map. After a significant court ruling, state authorities are preparing for a possible tribal gaming expansion. 

Kris Kobach, the Attorney General, has explained that the state can legally negotiate a tribal gaming compact with the Wyandotte Nation. This would potentially add a new casino operator to the landscape, including provisions for sports betting.

“Because KELA and the management contracts do not prohibit efforts that further tribal gaming under IGRA, they do not prohibit negotiating with the Wyandotte Nation over a compact,” Kobach said.

The opinion was issued in response to Gov. Laura Kelly's request for direction on the legal intersection between the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act (KELA). Kobach affirmed that IGRA preempts state law, and Kansas is obligated to negotiate with the Wyandotte Nation in good faith, just as it has with other tribes.

“We were pleased with the opinion,” said Wyandotte Nation Chief Billy Friend. “We’re looking forward to sitting down and negotiating in good faith and coming up with a fair compact.”

The opinion also clarified that such negotiations would not violate either existing state law or current management contracts with Kansas' four nontribal casinos. While the state cannot expand its casino zones under KELA until 2032, tribal compacts are governed separately under federal law.

If approved, this compact would change Kansas' gaming scene in the years to come by allowing the Seventh Street Casino in Wyandotte County and Cross Winds Casino in Sedgwick County to grow their businesses to include sports betting.