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Kansas Lottery Opens Third Bidding For Sumner County Casino

Posted on April 26th, 2010

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The Kansas Lottery Commission voted Friday to open a third bidding for the rights to build and run a casino in Sumner County after Chisholm Creek Casino Resort decided to pull out April 9. The Lottery has awarded the rights to develop the state-owned casino twice, and both times, the developers- first Harrah’s, then Chisholm Creek- abandoned their plans. The state is hoping this time they will be fortunate to find a developer who will bring the plans to completion.

Several years after Kansas voters approved four state-owned casinos, only Dodge City has a casino that is presently operational. The Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City has already produced $3 million in revenues for the state and $202,000 each for Dodge City and Ford County. In Wyandotte County, construction for a casino project will start next week.

Chisholm Creek called off the project after complaining about possible competition from Wichita Greyhound Park, a tribal casino in Park City that is being considered given another chance to allow slot machines by the Kansas Legislature through legislation that may be amended.

There was also the falling out over the issue of zoning at the casino’s planned location in Mulvane. When Chisholm Creek’s request to postpone processing of the project until after they have cleared matters with legislators concerning changes in the state’s gambling laws was denied, the developer decided to cancel the deal.

In order for the bidding process to move faster and smoother, the applicants will be given a contract modelled after contracts previously approved for casinos in Dodge City and Wyandotte County.

“We’ve negotiated something in the neighborhood of 20 of these contracts, so we have a pretty good idea what it is we want to see in these contracts, what we’re willing to accept, and what we can accept under the law,” said Keith Kocher, Kansas Lottery’s gaming facilities director. Kocher said a higher incentive offer is a major factor in the review board’s choice of a new developer. The state currently receives 22 percent from a casino’s gambling revenue. Some applicants from the last two biddings in Sumner County have signified their intentions to bid for projects in Mulvane and Wellington.

New developers are given until 2 p.m. on July 22nd to submit their applications, but the lottery is inclined to extend the deadline.