One day before Kansas' governor plans to sign an expanded gambling' bill into law, opponents of the bill say there is a loophole that could mean even 'more' slot machines in Kansas.Governor Sebelius on Wednesday will sign a bill that will allow for a casino and possibly slots at the Wichita Greyhound Park. Opponents say vague language could allow for slot machines at convenience stores and other areas around Wichita.
In August Sedgwick County voters are headed to the polls to vote for or against a destination casino and slots at the Wichita Greyhound Park. But casino opponents say you could be voting for more than you think.
"What the people vote on is going to be the legally binding vote," said Glenn Thompson, of Stand Up for Kansas. "It's not the explanations that accompany the questions."
Thompson says the questions that will be on the ballot are very vague and never specify where the slots will go. Opponents fear that could open the door for slots on every street corner.
"That means the lottery could place slot machines anywhere in the county, grocery stores, convenience stores, it doesn't specify that they will be at a racetrack," said Thompson.
Lottery director Ed Van Petten says technically Thompson’s right but that the legislature has always been overly careful about any expanded gaming.
Some lawmakers say the ballot language isn't vague, it’s straightforward.
"You could always nitpick the question, say I wished it had this but the goal with the questions on the ballot was to make them as straightforward as possible so that people would know what it was that they were deciding yes or not on," said State Rep. Jim Ward of Wichita.
And they say the goal of the casino vote isn't to have slots in convenience stores; it's to bring an economic opportunity.
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