This editorial appeared in The Wichita Eagle.
State lawmakers arguably haven't been very smart when it comes to budgeting. But at least they didn't count on much money from casino gambling in this year's budget.
That proved wise, as developers for three of the possible four state-owned casinos have now pulled out, and the state will receive only a fraction of the gambling money it expected this fiscal year and possibly the next.
The latest cancellation occurred Friday, when Kansas Entertainment pulled its plan for a $700 million casino resort at the Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County. Last month, Harrah's scrapped its planned $560 million casino at the Mulvane exit of the Kansas Turnpike. In September Penn National dropped its bid for a casino in southeast Kansas.
That means only the $87.5 million casino planned for Dodge City is currently on track.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Wichita Eagle.