Thursday at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly cashed in on Kansas’ first legal sports bet, her September wager on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. Governor Kelly will be donating the $150 she won, which includes her original $15 bet, to Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes’ charity, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The PENN Entertainment Foundation is donating an additional $1,500 to the charity as well.
“I was thrilled to be in Kansas City today to cash in on our state’s first legal sports bet, and to send my winnings to such a great cause,” Kelly said. “I can’t think of a better way to honor the Chiefs and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes than by giving my wins to his foundation, which is doing so much good for our children. I’m grateful to the PENN Entertainment Foundation for joining me in supporting 15 and the Mahomies with such a generous donation.”
“We are very proud to support Patrick and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation,” said Amanda Garber, Executive Director of the PENN Entertainment Foundation. “Patrick is a quintessential leader, whether it be at the helm of the Chiefs winning another Super Bowl or caring for the health and wellness of communities in need here in Kansas City and across the country.”
Mahomes’ organization, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, is dedicated to improving the lives of children by enacting initiatives that target health and wellness in communities in need. The foundation’s signature program, 15 for 15, supports 15 initiatives that focus on youth academics, science, the arts, classroom supplies, athletics, children with disabilities, after-school programs, and more.
Sports betting generated nearly $1.3 million in revenue in its first month of legalization in Kansas. The state gets a 10% cut, and 80% of that must be deposited in a fund dedicated to helping attract another professional sports franchise to Kansas. Legalizing sports gambling has delivered major revenue to the state and much more revenue for betting venues and online sportsbooks. It’s given us another form of entertainment and even resulted in a nice donation to a worthy charitable foundation.
Kansas resisted legal gambling for years before allowing the lotteries and casinos we have today. While gambling addiction is a real issue – the 2017 Kansas Gambling Survey determined that 2.7% of Kansas adults are at high risk for suffering from a gambling disorder – this new gateway doesn’t spell the end of civilization. If you need it, the Problem Gambling Helpline telephone number is 800-522-4700. But to the majority who follow the adage to “play responsibly,” an occasional bet on the Chiefs or March Madness can be just for fun.
