Ryan Loughmiller said he got more than he bargained for Monday after he posted a flier around his office advertising for a cash-prize, office-pool tournament: a letter from his company’s legal team.

“You always hear rumors that the pools are illegal, but you never know if it’s an urban myth or not,” said Loughmiller, a physical therapist who works at Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center’s Physical Therapy Clinic in Pittsburg, Kan.

Loughmiller said that after receiving the letter from his bosses, he quickly took the flier down and changed his pool to a “bragging-rights only” affair in connection with the NCAA March Madness basketball competition.

“It’s actually gotten more people involved,” he said, adding that about 14 people have signed up for the new pool. “I’m sure we’ll have a little certificate saying you’ve won.”

Kansas law considers three factors when determining whether gambling is legal, according to Mike Deines, director of communications for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. They are prize, such as cash or merchandise; chance or the level of skill involved; and consideration, meaning whether the players have to pay to participate.

“If that’s the case, it’s illegal,” he said. “If they can just put their bracket in and be eligible for a prize, it’s like a sweepstakes.”
Gambling on office pools is illegal in Missouri, according to a representative from Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office.

“A person engages in gambling when he stakes something of value on the outcome of a contest of chance,” said Scott Holste.

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