Topeka ? Kansas racetracks want slot machines, but say the Legislature must first change the gambling law so they get a bigger slice. With the state’s budget crisis, they’re hoping adversity will create opportunity.

Even though the state faces a projected revenue shortfall of more than $1 billion by June 30, 2011, it’s still going to be a hard sell to get lawmakers to revisit the expanded gambling law that was debated for a decade before it became reality in 2007.

The tracks have their backs against the wall. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission is considering whether to yank the licenses of the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan., and Camptown Greyhound Park in Frontenac and Wichita Greyhound Park because they’re closed and aren’t running races as required.

The track owners are begging the commission to delay any revocation to give them a chance to lobby the Legislature next year on changing the law.

“We’re asking for more time to address Senate Bill 66 to make it more viable to us, which hopefully will give the state more revenue sooner,” Howard Grace, one of the Woodlands owners, told the commission recently.

Phil Ruffin, who owns the Wichita and Frontenac tracks, has made the same plea.

Revenue needs

They will be dealing with legislators who face the daunting task of making planned spending match projected revenues – something that will take more of a broadsword than a scalpel.

Without many of the accounting gymnastics that created the magic money in years past, legislators will be forced to look for new sources of revenue.

A huge wad of revenue from a single source isn’t going happen, so it’ll be searching for many different revenue streams, whether they flow or trickle.

This is where the track owners hope to gain a foothold.

They contend giving the tracks more means they will reopen, creating more money for the state. Just how much more is open to speculation given the sagging economy.

“Something is better than nothing,” said Doug Lawrence, Kansas Greyhound Association executive director who helped draft last year’s gambling law. “The revenue shortfall could help the tracks get what they need.”

Ruffin wants 58 percent for the tracks. The law gives them up to 40 percent, another 40 percent goes to the state and 20 percent to local governments and various funds to help horses, dogs, small tracks and problem gamblers.

Tricky situation

Greed has killed many gambling bills over the years. If legislators sense greed more than need, the issue is dead on arrival. The key to success will be finding a percentage acceptable to the tracks and legislators.

Legislative support for expanded gambling has been slim at best. It barely passed, and only after Senate opponents made a tactical blunder that sent it to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius who embraced it.

“At some point we need to revisit it, but I don’t know if that will be next year,” said Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican.

House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney said he’s heard talk about reopening the law to accommodate the tracks.

“I’m not a fan of gaming, but if we’re going to have it, we need to make it to stimulate the horse and dog industry because that is good for the entire state,” said the Greensburg Democrat.

The extent of legislative support is an open question because there will be 24 first-time legislators without any voting record on an issue that crosses party lines.

One thing is for certain: Most opponents won’t change their minds.

“I didn’t vote for it the first time around, why would I now?” said Sen. Les Donovan, a Wichita Republican.

The fear is that reopening the issue creates opportunities to repeal the law, putting an end to the casinos before they open.

Even supporters of casinos and tracks, like the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan. fret over that possibility.

“We’ve supported the Woodlands but it would be a fool’s bet to say we reopen this for the Woodlands and lose the Hard Rock,” said Unified Government spokesman Mike Taylor, referring to the casino planned at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County.