TOPEKA ? Gov. Sam Brownback is allowing a bill aimed at luring a state-owned casino to southeast Kansas to become law without his signature.

Brownback announced the decision Friday, his deadline for acting. Brownback said he has reservations about state-owned casinos but noted that southeast Kansas residents strongly support the bill.

The bill decreases the investment required by Kansas law for a casino in either Cherokee or Crawford county to $50 million, instead of the current $225 million.

The bill also cuts the fee prospective developers are required to pay to $5.5 million from $25 million.

A 2007 law authorized a casino owned by the Kansas Lottery to be built and operated by a private developer. But local officials have argued the current investment requirement is too high to attract interest.