Maybe it was something about the holiday season that made hope spring eternal Monday in Mulvane. On the first Christmas, wise men and shepherds followed a bright star to Bethlehem to behold the birth of Jesus. On Monday, people were flocking to a different star, the new Kansas Star Casino, which opened its doors for the first time at 8 a.m.

According to news reports, 1,050 people entered the casino within the first 45 minutes it was open. In the first 90 minutes, that number rose to 1,600. Within a little more than two hours, the total was 2,415. Three hours after the opening, there was a waiting line stretching outside the casino for 100 yards and a 30-minute wait to get in. Vehicles were backed up almost all the way to the new Kansas Turnpike toll booths at the new Mulvane exit.

Even though they know the odds are against them, they came to the newest state-owned casino in hopes of coming out a winner. Most people understand that the state and the casino operators always come out ahead in a casino operation, but they also know that every once in a while some gambler wins big.

It’s an interesting psychology that makes people want to take their chances even though they know that, in the long run, they almost certainly will lose. Jack and Trudy Brown from nearby Bel Aire seemed to have exactly the attitude Kansas lawmakers had in mind when they approved state-owned casinos a few years ago. The Browns said they usually head to casinos in Newkirk, Okla., on the weekends, but, on Monday, “We decided we’d donate to Kansas instead,” said Jack Brown. “If I’m going to lose, I’d rather it go to my state.”

For some people, putting coins in a slot machine is just a less painful way to pay taxes. That’s good news for state legislators who are depending on increased gaming revenue to help balance the budget and perhaps fund some new initiatives, such as the jobs-creation plan proposed by Democratic leaders earlier this month.

In other gaming news, it was reported last week that the state has reduced its investment in programs to deal with problem gambling. That fund was an important part of selling the initial legislation to legalize casino gambling in the state, but fiscal demands caused legislators to pull back on that investment and divert more funds to other budget needs. For many people, visiting a casino is a simple entertainment choice, but for some it can be a devastating addiction, and the state has a moral obligation to maintain services to help problem gamblers.

We hope that all of the people who went to Kansas Star on Monday didn’t blow all of their Christmas cash or lose more than they could afford to lose. We hope they all had a wonderful time at the new casino and will come back soon to contribute some more disposable income to the state coffers.