If Kansas is going to raise funds for state programs through a lottery, it should certainly try to maximize that revenue.

For that reason, a new bill that would allow lottery vending machines in Kansas should be approved. The House voted 100-25 to approve House Bill 2313 last week. The bill amends the Kansas Lottery Act to allow the use of lottery ticket vending machines and dedicates vending machine revenue to community mental health centers and other mental health services.

The bill has now been referred to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee.

Last year was a record year for the Kansas Lottery with $272 million in lottery ticket sales and $78.2 million transferred to the state.

But lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford said sales would increase even more with approval of the vending machines, which would be placed in existing Kansas Lottery outlets such as convenience stores. Lunsford added that the machines would cut labor costs for retailers since ticket buyers could bypass clerks and use the self-service machines.

Thirty-seven states, including Missouri, Colorado and Oklahoma, already use the machines, and Lunsford said the machines have increased lottery sales by up to 50 percent in some states.

Susan Goedde, communications manager with the Missouri Lottery, told The Associated Press that Missouri lottery sales increased 11.8 percent at 300 retail outlets that got new machines in 2015.

Kansas hopes to increase the state’s share of lottery revenue by $12 million in the next two years. That’s ambitious considering it took the state 10 years to increase the state’s share of lottery revenue from $65.4 million in 2006 to $78.2 million in 2016. But if the vending machines will help, then they should be approved.

Opponents expressed concern that minors could use the vending machines. But store clerks will have remote controls that can be used to turn off a machine if the clerk suspects a minor is trying to use it. Others are simply opposed to state-sponsored gambling.

But that ship has long since sailed. The Kansas Lottery is now in its 30th year. Kansans support it and lawmakers’ obligation is to, within reason, maximize the benefit that the state’s residents receive from the lottery. Adding vending machines will increase lottery revenue for a state that desperately needs new revenue streams. House Bill 2313 should be approved.