House passes gambling bill
Originally published 10:12 a.m., March 26, 2007
Updated 12:32 p.m., March 26, 2007
After an emotional couple of days, the House just passed a bill that could expand gambling in the state.
The 64-to-58 vote sent the gambling bill to the Senate. Backers of the measure contend the state eventually could realize $200 million a year from the hotel-and-casino complexes and tracks with slots.
The bill would permit large tourist-attracting casinos in Ford, Wyandotte, either Sedgwick or Sumner, and either Crawford or Cherokee counties.
Under the bill, the Kansas Lottery would own the casinos and slots operations but would hire private companies to manage them.
It also would permit allow up to 2,200 slot machines initially, distributed among Wichita Greyhound Park; the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kansas, and the now-closed Camptown Greyhound Park, in Frontenac.
The bill also expands the life of the Kansas lottery.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius voiced her support of the passage of the gambling bill and said she hoped the Senate would now approve the measure.
Opponents say expansion of gambling could ruin families because of addiction.
Republican Don Dahl of Hillsboro said the vote puts Kansas "on the dark side," and "an ominous cloud has now descended on Kansas."
“The (gambling) industry is treating Kansas the way it does problem gamblers. It is promising us to be winners. It is handing us cash as we enter the door,” said Rep. Forest Knox, R-Altoona.
House members took up the bill Friday, debating the issue for 12 hours, well into Saturday morning. Read more in the story titled Emotional debate over gambling leads to late-night house session
Kansas already has a state lottery and four Native American casinos operate in the northeast Kansas, but the state receives no revenue from those casinos.
Even lawmakers not especially in favor of gambling said the state was losing out on revenue from increased gambling operations in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Tune in to 49 News at 6 for a report from Statehouse Reporter Gena Terlizzi.
Comments
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Mar. 26, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)situveux1 (anonymous)
State owned casinos regulated by a board appointed by the governor who takes thousands of dollars in contributions from the gaming industry. Amazing.
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