Monday, April 16, 2007

Glenn Thompson, executive director of the anti-gambling group Stand Up for
Kansas, said that under the bill, future Legislatures could put video slot
machines in convenience stores, grocery stores and other places without
having to get voters' approval. "They could use this question later to place
machines at locations other than racetracks," Thompson said. Thompson is
referring to a part of the bill that calls for a vote in counties that can
have state-owned casinos, slots at pari-mutuel tracks or both. In those
counties, voters must approve resolutions before expanded gambling can be
established. For example, Wyandotte County voters can decide whether to have
a casino, slots or both at The Woodlands horse and dog track. To have slots
at The Woodlands, voters will be asked: "Shall the Kansas Lottery be
authorized to place electronic gaming machines in Wyandotte County?"
Thompson says if Wyandotte County voters approve that resolution, lawmakers
could in future years rewrite the gambling law to say those machines can be
placed in other locations, such as convenience stores, and there would be no
need for an election because the voters already would have decided. "The
whole bill is very deceptive," Thompson said. Ed Van Petten, executive
director of the Kansas Lottery, which would be in charge of the games, said
Thompson is correct in theory but not in practicality. "It could happen that
way, but historically I don't think there has been any gaming issue for any
kind of expansion that hasn't required voter approval," he said. "The
Legislature has shied away from expanding gaming without getting local
approval." Sebelius toured the state Wednesday to sign the bill into law.
Sebelius has called the measure a "responsible expansion" because of the
local option voter requirement. "The people of Kansas will finally have a
chance to decide for themselves whether to allow expanded gaming," Sebelius
said. She signed the bill at four news conferences in areas that under the
bill could add state-owned casinos and resorts, and video slot machines at
tracks. Sebelius conducted ceremonies at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita,
Dodge City Regional Airport, The Woodlands horse and dog track in Kansas
City, Kan., and Cherokee County Courthouse in Columbus. The law will become
effective when it is printed in the Kansas Register in the next several
weeks.