The Kansas Senate brushed aside a financial appeal Thursday on behalf of potential investors in slot-machine gaming operations at defunct racetracks and endorsed legislation permitting retailers to install automated lottery ticket dispensers.
State law prohibits convenience and grocery stores to make use of vending devices for sale of Kansas Lottery tickets. Officials with the state lottery lobbied for a change in statute to permit ticket dispensers to be placed in 400 to 500 retail sites.
Sen. Jake LaTurner, R-Pittsburg, said House Bill 2313 would repeal a sunset on the state’s lottery, void tickets sold to minors and direct at least $4 million in new lottery proceeds to mental health programs. Enactment of the bill would still require winning tickets to be redeemed personally.
The measure was approved by the Senate 35-5, one of the last acts of the chamber before adjourning for the weekend. The House had adopted a different version of the lottery vending machine bill on a vote of 100-25.
Debate on the Senate version of the bill was sidetracked with amendments — which ultimately were rejected — proposed by Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, R-Leavenworth. He sought a reduction in the state’s share of racetrack slot-machine revenue from the current 40 percent down to 22 percent, the same rate paid by operators of the state’s four casinos.