Kansas Seeking Slot Machines

With Missouri changing the rules of their gambling riverboats, Kansas has been seeking some sort of way around its constitution to bring in casinos of its own. Lawmakers tried to bring in state owned casinos as part of the state lottery, but anti-gambling forces have been fighting it.

Kansas’ constitution clearly states that there is to be no gambling unless it is state owned and operated lottery games. That law was passed in 1986, as voters saw traditional lottery as a way to bring money into the state, but not bring in the problems that come with slot machines and gambling. However, court rulings since that time have tried to blur the lines to add casinos or slot machines to the “lottery”.

Kansas’ Attorney General Robert Stephan said that “the state…cannot turn over the operation of a casino” to a public corporation and that they had to play an integral role in the running of said casino. He said that they cannot act as regulator only, that they had to be hands on in the operation. Senate Bill 66 says that casino must work under the full and ultimate control of the state, but no one knows exactly what that means.

Not only that, but the lottery is subject to checks and balances that make sure that it is being operated correctly, and must show their books upon request. The new bill says that their finances, revenue, etc. are exempt from the public. That means that they don’t have to prove to anyone the amount of money they make, or how they determine who gets paid what.

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