Still no destination casino in cards for Wichita

Our editorial on today’s opinion pages notes that the long-awaited Kansas Senate plan to expand gambling has been built to attract votes, without regard to reality or fairness. Among the questions we ask: What would possess legislators to approve slot machines for a nonexistent dog track in Dodge City, yet be unwilling to allow destination casinos in three counties where voters have already endorsed them (Geary, Harvey and Sumner)? And why limit the populous Wichita area to slots at the track when this region is so ripe for a full-service destination casino — a conclusion supported by public opinion polls, market research and the local ad campaigns of tribal casinos elsewhere?
Each time we write one of these editorials expressing frustration with this process and our area legislators’ knee-jerk opposition to gambling, it can seem as if we’re dying to see a destination casino open in Wichita. Not so. Maybe it really is a terrible idea. But that decision should be made by local voters, and their ability to make that decision should not be blocked at every turn in Topeka.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

9 Comments

  1. CrusaderX
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    Yeah, let the people decide, man. Let the people decide.

  2. Tater
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    The decision is already made in Topeka, But we the Voters can have the last say in November, Vote these incumbants out and put some people in who will listen to the people who put them there.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 9:03 am | Permalink

    I have a question about this. Didn’t the people of Sedgwick County voted down expanded gambling in the past? Sometime in the early 90’s?

    The only reason why Wichita will not get a destination casino is because of our area legislator representatives. Most all are against expanded gaming. If they don’t want it here, it’s not going to happen.

    The slots at the Dog Track is a good compromise. If anything it will help the Dog Track tremendously.

  4. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 11:04 am | Permalink

    Joe, I dont agree that when it comes to the Wichita delegation, that “most all are against expanded gaming.”

    I think they are FOR more campaign donations from gambling interests in their coffers. If Wichita gets casinos, what will be the next issue to energize their base? Who will make-up the shortfall in their campaign donations?

    They need the money joe, they need the money.

  5. Phil
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 12:12 pm | Permalink

    Money talks. Those campaign contributions given to our legislators by out-of-town gambling interests has paid off.

  6. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 1:04 pm | Permalink

    Heh heh, he said “paid off”.

  7. Joe Williams
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 6:49 pm | Permalink

    Need the money for their campaign? Nah! Most legislators run unoppose. There are very few if only a couple that are considered competitive in the entire state.

    They are not going to lose sleep or elections over the gaming issue.

  8. Ben Huie
    Posted March 9, 2006 at 8:16 am | Permalink

    Joe – as you know, that fact is largely due to the huge war chests they can bring to a campaign.

  9. D. R.
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 2:10 am | Permalink

    Park City may want a destination casino, but they need to realize it may have to start with slots at Wichita Greyhound Park. While the Park City Mayor cries about how unfair it would be to her town, she needs to realize how many of the residents of her town work at the Dog Track, and how much revenue Park City would gain from increased business around the track. It would create more jobs for her residents and increase sales at local businesses. As far as her concern about a (big-dog) track owner getting his way…what about the employees of the track who have spent years working there, spending money in Park City and waiting for some kind of fairness to help relieve the lack of business that has doomed the track for the past ten years. It is not just some big business man, it’s real hard working people who need their jobs as well as care about the business they have devoted years to. I have spent my hard-earned money in Park City for 12 years, along with many co-workers. I’m sorry but Park City needs to wait their turn, there’s no room on this “band wagon”.