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Racing and Gaming Commission readies regulation for Sedgwick County pari-mutuel facility; committee concurs with LBC
Summary
The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission briefed the committee on regulatory preparations for a Sedgwick County pari-mutuel facility (historical horse racing), equipment needs and contractual changes; the Committee on General Government Budget concurred with the Legislative Budget Committee's recommendations for the agency's 2025 and 2026 budgets.
The Committee on General Government Budget received testimony from Molly Pratt (Legislative Research Department), Kayla Loomis (Executive Director, State Gaming — tribal oversight), Hale Loomis (State Gaming), and Brandy White (Director of Administration, Finance and Audit, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission) on the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) budget, regulatory activities and the status of an anticipated pari-mutuel facility in Sedgwick County.
Molly Pratt summarized the agency's revised 2025 request, which the LBC estimated at roughly $12.4 million with a small net decrease from the approved amount. Key items included a $100,000 increase for equipment tied to regulation of historical horse-racing machines and reimbursements for intergovernmental communications services. Pratt also noted minor adjustments tied to lower estimated employee benefits and commodity costs.
Brandy White, the KRGC director of administration, said the agency is preparing regulatory activities for the Sedgwick County pari-mutuel facility and expects the facility to be operational in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2025 per the operator's most recent timeline. White said the commission is conducting background reviews, reviewing floor plans and beginning internal-control work. The agency estimated it would need on-site agents hired roughly six months before opening; although 13 FTE had been approved for the historical-horse-racing effort, the timing shifted and the agency adjusted planned hiring timing and billing practices so the operator is charged only for actual costs incurred.
The State Gaming representative explained the agency's budget relationship with tribal casinos (she said State Gaming oversees the tribal compacted casinos and that excess budget balances are credited back to tribes). The KRGC noted it contracted out an IT coordinator function to OITS and therefore removed the funded position while retaining necessary services through the statewide IT provider.
Representative Turk moved, with a second from Representative O'Habison, to concur with the LBC recommendations for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission's 2025-26 budget; the committee approved the motion.
All substantive quotations are attributed to speakers as shown in the meeting transcript.
