The wait is almost over.

The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board on Friday is set to select a manager to operate a large casino in Sumner County under the state’s new expanded gambling law. The board is meeting Thursday and Friday to finalize its decision. It also will select a manager for the southeast „gaming zone,“ which includes Cherokee and Crawford counties.

Interest in Sumner County has been intense. Three proposals are on the table — from Sumner Resorts-Harrah’s Kansas, Marvel Gaming and Penn National Gaming Inc.

The latter two are seeking permission to place casinos near Wellington along the Interstate 135 corridor. Harrah’s is seeking a Mulvane casino, also along the highway.

All three have been aggressively courting each community to general public support.

But under the state’s expanded gambling act, passed in 2007, only one casino proposal will be allowed in the county. The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board was appointed by the governor and legislative leaders to pick the winner, largely based on the amount of economic development the casino would create and the revenues it is projected to send to the state.

The board is meeting in Topeka.