New development for Kansas casinos

Last week, Penn National Gaming lost out to Harrah’s Entertainment in Sumner County for a casino contract with the state of Kansas. Penn was granted the contract to build in Cherokee County, but the company has said if it didn’t get both counties, it might pull out altogether.

But now, a northeast Kansas Indian tribe is asking a judge to block Harrah’s plans, saying it’s violating a non-compete agreement signed in January.

Harrah’s has managed the tribe’s casino near Topeka for nearly a decade. But part of the January agreement stated Harrah’s would not operate or manage a casino for two years.

Under the contract with Kansas, Harrah’s would manage the Sumner County facility.