Kansas To Become First State To Own Casinos After Supreme Court Ruling

Many states in the country have casinos within their borders. No states, however, own the casinos that are in the state. That is about to change. Kansas will become the first state to own their own casinos.

The Supreme Court today, upheld a law that expanded gambling in the state of Kansas. The ruling came after the state's highest court was asked to clarify if the state had operational control and ownership over the casinos.

"While the state is not the exclusive owner and operator of all aspects of the lottery enterprise under KELA, the state owns and operates the enterprise by itself and owns and operates key elements of the lottery," wrote Justice Eric S. Rosen, for the court.

Four casinos will come under the state lottery as well as slot machines being added to Camptown Greyhound Park and Woodlands in Kansas. The ruling was expected to come in favor of the state, but still the clarification paves the way for investors to feel confident in their investments.

"It is unnecessary that the state own the physical plant associated with the lottery. It suffices that the state own the game, or the scheme, or the enterprise. Such a definition is consistent with a standard review favoring the constitutionality of KELA," wrote Rosen.

KELA is the 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act in which slot machines falls under lottery laws, and the state would own and operate four casinos.

June 27, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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