Odds are good that a bill legalizing slot machines will clear a Senate committee this week, but its future afterward is uncertain.
Legislative leaders give varying predictions, though none argue the bill has enough support to pass the Senate yet. Some think the bill, which Gov. Bill Graves is willing to sign, can garner enough votes. Others say supporters can't prevail.
The bill would permit slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks, if voters in their home counties approved. Supporters believe passing the proposal would raise at least $50 million a year for the state, though official estimates are lower.
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee is scheduled to debate the bill and vote Thursday. Chairwoman Nancey Harrington expects the committee to send the bill to the Senate for debate as a courtesy to its sponsors.
"I would be surprised if it did not," said Harrington, R-Goddard.
Track owners have been pushing for expanded gambling for years, hoping slot machines would help their struggling businesses. The tracks have seen attendance and betting decline as casinos opened on riverboats in Missouri and Indian reservations in Kansas.
Under the bill, most of the money raised after prizes are paid out 70 percent would go to the tracks. The state's share would be 20 percent. The remaining 10 percent would be split several ways.
Supporters have been pitching the bill as a way to raise money for the state, but Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, doesn't think its share would be large enough. He said that if no other Federal and State Affairs Committee member will propose an amendment, he will, though he wouldn't set a new figure.
"We've had slots bills before where the state got more than 20 percent," he said.
Vratil is one of two undecided committee members. The other is freshman Sen. Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford, who said she has heard from dog and horse breeders, track owners and people concerned about the treatment of racing animals.
"I still have some concerns," she said.
Four committee members oppose the bill: Harrington; Jim Barnett, R-Emporia; Bob Lyon, R-Winchester; and Kay O'Connor, R-Olathe. They don't want to expand gambling because they fear social costs, such as an increase in addicted gamblers.
Three committee members support the bill. They are Pete Brungardt, R-Salina; Mark Gilstrap, D-Kansas City; and Rip Gooch, D-Wichita.
But Gilstrap, the committee's ranking Democrat, is confident that the bill may receive the support of as many as six committee members.
The reason is senatorial courtesy.
For example, Barnett is pushing a bill to require liquor stores to keep track of who buys beer kegs. Gilstrap opposes the bill but voted last week to send it from the Federal and State Affairs Committee to the Senate, so that all members could debate it. Now Barnett is willing to vote to send the slot machine bill to the Senate.
Once the bill reaches the Senate, though, its passage is in doubt. It would need the votes of 21 of 40 senators.
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