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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOPEKA (AP) -- Senators debated expanding gambling Wednesday, with opponents hoping to force an early vote that would kill a bill authorizing casinos in four areas and slot machines at dog and horse tracks in three cities.

Supporters believe the new gambling eventually could provide $200 million a year in revenues for the state, while opponents predicted existing restaurants and entertainment businesses would be hurt and Kansas would see more social ills like addicted gamblers and broken families.

The 98-page gambling proposal was drafted by a bipartisan coalition in the House and amended into a Senate bill extending the Kansas Lottery's operations before narrowly winning approval in that chamber Monday.

The House's action left the Senate with the choice of demanding negotiations and attempting to draft a compromise on gambling, or accepting the House's version and sending the bill to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who supports it.

Senate leaders described their 40-member chamber as evenly split over the proposal, leaving supporters searching for a 21st vote to pass it.

Opponents wanted a vote on accepting the House's version, hoping it would fail, killing the bill.

''The cost to Kansas families -- the cost to small businesses in Kansas -- is incalculable,'' said Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville. ''Hundreds of millions of dollars will be taken out of our economy.''

But supporters wanted to buy time by forcing negotiations.

''This is a matter that deserves our careful attention,'' said Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood.

The bill would permit tourist-attracting, hotel-and-casino complexes in Ford County, Wyandotte County, either Sedgwick or Sumner county and either Cherokee or Crawford county.

It also would permit a total of 2,200 slot machines at three tracks, Wichita Greyhound Park, the Woodlands in Kansas City and the now-closed Camptown Greyhound Park in Frontenac. An additional 600 machines would be permitted once the state had contracts with developers to operate the casinos.

The state would receive 22 percent of the casinos' revenues and 40 percent of the slot machines' revenues.

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Gambling bill is SB 66.