Kansas to discuss lottery vending machines

Today marks the last day of the session that could discuss the possibility of using vending machines to sell tickets in Kansas.

US.- Kansas has been trying to legalise a measure that would allow self-service lottery dispensers in the state for a few months now. Today, lawmakers will reunite on the last day of the session to see if the bill gets approved.

Spokeswoman of the local lottery, Sally Lunsford, said back in March that he bill is built to increase revenue and reduce labor costs for retailers and used other states that already implemented the measure as examples. According to Lunsford, other states such as Colorado and Missouri have experienced a 50 percent increase in their revenues since they legalised lottery vending machines. Communications manager of the Missouri Lottery, Susan Goedde, said that ever since the state installed 300 machines in 2015, they increased monthly sales almost 12 percent.

As the last day of the session is mainly ceremonial, the approval of the legislation is in danger as not every lawmaker shows up during this day. In order to be fully passed, the bill needs 84 votes from the House and 27 in the Senate, as the Lottery Post revealed. The bill was vetoed by the Governor Sam Brownback last week, as he believes that the state needs to work towards a goal that helps low income Kansans to find a path of self-reliance and independence through education, work and savings.