Kansas state Rep. John Barker recently introduced HB2173, which would allow racinos featuring live horse and dog racetracks in Frontenac, Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas to reopen. Barker previously and unsuccessfully introduced similar bills. The current measure will be taken up by committee when lawmakers return from adjournment.
Barker noted, “It affects millions of dollars. We just want our percentages to be the same as the state-owned casinos. They don’t want the competition, but if you go to Las Vegas, there’s a lot of competition, and you go to the ones that have the best deals. Here in the state of Kansas, the casinos have the monopoly. The track owners want a chance to operate in the state of Kansas and they wouldn’t need any state incentives like the $500 million in tax rebates used by the state-owned casinos.”
He pointed out racetracks are subject to a 40-percent tax on income. The proposal, however, would lower that tax rate to 22 percent, which is what the state-owned casinos pay.
Barker added, “When the state-owned casino bill was passed, it was always contemplated that the state would have four casino/gaming zones, but they would also include a racetrack, because the racetracks were there first.” He said Wichita native and billionaire Las Vegas casino owner Phil Ruffin will post $100 million to open a horse racetrack at the Woodlands in Wichita “so it would cost the state nothing,” Barker said.
Greyhound racetracks would operate in southeast Kansas and in Sedgwick County where it’s opposed by the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane. Barker stated the three tracks could generate revenue of more than $50 million annually, after an initial investment of more than $400 for construction, renovation and hotel development. They also will provide hundreds of construction and permanent jobs, he said.
Although some animal rights groups oppose reopening the greyhound tracks, National Greyhound Association Director Jim Gartland said the health and well being of the animals is not an issue due to NGA’s strict guidelines and policies plus state and federal requirements. Barker said, “You don’t mistreat a $50,000 dog. I raise cattle. If a cow is having a calf every year, making you $600 to $700, you take good care of the cow and you call the vets out when you need to call the vets out.”
