This is probably the most unusual gambling related news you will hear this year but on January 16, the five members of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission actually asked Governor Kathleen Sebelius to cut their salaries.  The regulators are normally paid almost $24,000 per year.  Spokersperson for the Commission, Mike Deines, said that given the state’s budget crisis and the fact that there were already planned layoffs of staff, the commissioners felt it was appropriate to ask for reduced pay.

The Commission is supposed to receive their compensation out of the fees from the companies it would be regulating, not tax revenues, but the ambitious plans for seven state-run gambling establishments fell through in 2008.  Only one casino is being built at this time and the Dodge City facility is expected to open later this year.