Topeka ? Legislative leaders have created a new committee to help oversee the state’s expansion of gambling.

Earlier this year, the Legislature authorized state-owned casinos in four areas and slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks. Lawmakers made the Kansas Lottery the owner of the new gambling operations.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt on Monday said having a single, joint committee review the gambling expansion will make oversight easier as the lottery drafts rules for the new gambling and reviews contracts with potential casino developers.

The new committee will have six members, three from the Senate and three from the House. Its first task will be examining the lottery’s first rules.