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Native Americans Square Off with Iowans in Kansas Casino Proposal

Posted on October 30th, 2010

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With the northeastern, southern and northwestern portions of the country already expanding or allowing the operation of casinos in their areas, it seems that the Midwest also want a slice of the gambling action. Kansas is dangling a casino license to interested owners and operators, and so far, two parties have expressed their desire to have the casino under their helm. One party is the gaming subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation. On the other side is a casino operator based in Iowa. Both parties pitched their plans yesterday for a casino and hotel complex in Kansas to be built along Interstate 35 between the state’s border in Wichita with neighboring Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation was represented by its subsidiary Global Gaming Solutions LLC, based in Ada, Kansas. The group presented on Thursday to members of the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board details of their plans for the casino. Their vision for the facility includes a vintage car racetrack, which will be constructed during the second phase of the hotel and casino development.

Meanwhile, the Iowa party, Peninsula Gaming Partners LLC based in Dubuque, sweetened their proposal by putting a world-class equestrian center to their casino and hotel complex. The review board will decide on December 15 whichparty would be granted the project. The announcement will be made in Topeka, Kansas. After the announcement of the decision, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission will have to conduct a background checks on the chosen company. Should the background checks go without any hitch, the body will then grant its final approval. The Native Indian tribe may be on the advantage as Peninsula Gaming Partners has some issues with its reputation. The company earlier this month was faced with scandals as two of its executives were accused of making illegal donations to the campaign of incumbent Iowa Governor Chet Culver. They were charged with giving the donations using another person’s name, which is considered a misdemeanor in the state.

One of the accused, Peninsula chief executive Brent Stevens was there during the company’s presentation to the Kansas review board yesterday. He claimed, “We absolutely deny any wrongdoing.” Stevens and other officials of the Peninsula are planning to construct the casino in the vicinity of Mulvane, Kansas. They even already have a name for the facility: Kansas Star Casino. With the equestrian center they are planning to put up in the complex, the officials of Peninsula are anticipating that their facility will be the site of at least 26 to 31 premier equestrian competitions and shows every year. With the gambling, entertainment shows and equestrian attractions, Peninsula projects for the Kansas Star Casino to attract 675,000 tourists per year. Aside from the equestrian center, Peninsula’s proposal includes the gambling floor to be occupied by 1,850 slot machines, 42 table games and a poker room with five tables.

Also included in the complex is a hotel with 150 rooms, a steakhouse and cocktail bar with 115 seats, a buffet restaurant to seat 250 and a food court with 40 seats. Another hotel with 150 rooms may be added at a later time. Peninsula made arrangements for government officials to not ignore their proposal by promising an allocation of $1.5 million annually to a fund that will support local education. Included in the plan is the provision of scholarships worth $1,000 for every high school senior in Sumner County, Kansas and $100 for every K-12 student in the county to for use to buy school supplies. The plan also includes the budget of $500 every year for every classroom teacher in the county and Mulvane School District for them to be paid of the classroom supplies they had to buy using their own money. Global Gaming Solutions, meanwhile, told the review board members that its casino will be located near the turnpike at Wellington, Kansas. They will be naming their facility the WinSpirit Casino.

They also plan to develop the vintage care racetrack by tapping the expertise of a nationally known race car driver and a major racing organization. Their casino will include 1,300 electronic games, 40 blackjack tables and 20 poker tables to be housed in a 260,000 square-foot facility, plus an entertainment and events center with 1,400 seats, an 80-room hotel and for six restaurants and bars.