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Fight Over Revenue Stalls Kansas Casino Plan

KANSAS – As reported by the Associated Press: "In 1995, legislators approved gambling compacts with four Indian tribes, decisions that brought casinos to Kansas.

"But since then, a further expansion of gambling has been a dicey proposition. Proposals to permit private companies to operate nontribal casinos have failed, as have measures to allow the Kansas Lottery to run them. Legislators also have refused to allow slot machines at dog and horse tracks.

"The failures have come when the state has been flush with cash and when it desperately needed money to sustain its programs. Even Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' open advocacy couldn't get supporters the votes they needed this year.

"…Gambling promoters have proven a diverse and fractious lot, including tribes, tracks, civic leaders and fraternal groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"They sometimes have competing interests that slow efforts to win passage of a single proposal.

"…The difficulty of the task was apparent last week, when a task force appointed by Sebelius to review gambling issues talked for a full afternoon without settling on any proposals to forward to her.

"…Sebelius' gambling committee debated whether Wyandotte County could support one, two or three casinos but did not reach any definitive conclusion. Other members talked of casinos in Wichita, Dodge City, Junction City and the Pittsburg area.

"…And another battle comes annually over how to divide potential profits.

"…Another issue is how much control the state exercises through its lottery. While the Kansas Supreme Court has said the state constitution's definition of lottery was broad enough to encompass slots and blackjack, the enterprises still must be state-owned…"

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