Local legislators said they expected Friday’s decision as the Kansas Supreme Court unanimously declared the gaming bill passed by the Kansas Legislature to be constitutional.
But that doesn’t mean they weren’t ecstatic about the result.
“It was great news,” said Rep. Julie Menghini, D-Pittsburg. “There were an awful lot of attorneys who looked at it before it was brought to the floor, so we assumed that would be the news. Still, we’re very excited.
“We need the money, and now, there’s nothing holding that back,” Menghini said.
The decision should add a quick $80.5 million bonus to the state’s budgetary woes soon after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced her plans to cut state budgets. The $80.5 million will come from the start-up fees offered by the casino developers as part of the bill. The state has estimated it will receive at least $200 million per year from gaming revenue.
“It kind of laid everything to rest,” said Rep. Bob Grant, D-Cherokee. “There are a lot of folks out there that still don’t like it, but I think we’ve got pretty good control of it. This basically solidifies that what we did was the right thing.”
Sen. Jim Barone, D-Frontenac, said he wasn’t surprised by the verdict.
“It was the verdict I was expecting based on a knowledgeable input that goes back more than five years, which is the reason I supported the concept,” Barone said. “I always thought it would be constitutional.”
But Barone said he also wouldn’t be surprised if the process saw more hurdles and more lawsuits on a smaller scale against individual casinos and locations. Grant said he didn’t think that would happen.
“If it does happen, basically all we’re doing is shooting ourselves in the foot,” Grant said. “We have to get this one running down in Cherokee County and hopefully get back on track to do something with Camptown.”
Crawford County will see 1 percent of the revenues from the Cherokee County-based casino, while Cherokee County will receive 2. The percentages are flip-flopped for the take from The New Frontier at Camptown Greyhound Park. Developers for the casino have already announced that they would phase in their investment to the facility, meaning the county might not see the full effect for a few years. The casino will also be in direct competition with a downstream casino just across the Oklahoma border, which is already nearing completion.
At Camptown, the situation is even more dire, with the Ruffin Companies threatening to walk if state rates aren’t changed. The track has already closed multiple times in the past, and Phil Ruffin Jr. has said they won’t reopen the track if they aren’t assured it won’t close again. The range of rates were mandated in the bill, giving the Kansas Lottery little wiggle room.
But Charles Napier, chairman of the Cherokee County Commissioners, said it was a positive day.
“It has been a long process,” Napier said. “The county voted, with 70 percent voting to have gaming here. As far as myself, I’m not a gambler, but I think the county overall is probably already ready for it.
“It looks like things might be getting closer to reality,” Napier said. “And that’s what the public wants.”
Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134
PITTSBURG —
