TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Supporters of expanded gambling in Kansas hoped Thursday that the promise of new revenues for the state would overcome legislators’ reluctance to tinker with an existing law allowing casinos and slot machines at racetracks.
Separate but identical bills in the House and Senate are designed to resolve issues keeping a developer from building a casino in southeast Kansas or track owners from installing slots. Backers believe the changes could generate $40 million for the state within a year.
The House Appropriations Committee introduced a bill Thursday, a day after the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee filed its own. The Senate committee plans to have a hearing next week.
Each bill would rewrite a 2007 law allowing one casino in each of four areas and slot machines at racetracks in Kansas City, Wichita and southeast Kansas. Track owners and others have argued flaws in the law prevented as full of an expansion of gambling as intended.
“It’s long overdue,” said Rep. Julie Menghini, a Pittsburg Democrat. “I’m excited about it. I think it’s a great way to keep revenue in our state and, hopefully, bring revenue into our state.”
Supporters of expanded gambling wanted to rewrite the law last year, but top House and Senate leaders, all Republicans, didn’t want to reopen the often-difficult debate over gambling.
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<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/quickread.gif " border=0> Proposals designed to expand gambling in Kansas
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