Kansas City, Kansas - A casino involved in a legal battle is almost done with its remodeling and set to open. The remodeling is mixing the building's green marble pillars and other original fixtures with new features such as slot parlors and a restaurant that seats 125 guests. "It's just like walking back into the 1920s," said David McCullough, an Oklahoma City attorney and tribal general counsel.
The remodeling cost for the 7th Street Casino is now estimated at USD 20 million.
Harrah’s Entertainment announced a partnership with Kansas-based developers for a proposed casino in Sumner County. Sumner Gaming and Resorts said it would submit a casino plan to the Sumner County Commission for a project located near Wellington. Details of the proposal weren’t released, but Charles Atwood, Harrah’s vice chairman, said in a statement the company would propose a "large-scale Las Vegas-style resort" reflecting the "natural beauty and hospitality that is very much a part of the charm and appeal of Kansas."
Although a state law authorizing new casinos faces a court challenge, state officials are moving ahead with preparations for expanded gambling anyway. The agency responsible for regulating gaming in the state has hired seven new employees, including four executive staff members, and is in the process of adding seven more, spokesman Mike Deines said. In all, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission could grow by a total of 25 full-time employees by next July, a 37 percent increase above its full-time staffing levels last year.
Penn National Gaming received the endorsement of the Cherokee County Commission for its plan to manage a state-owned casino and hotel in the county. “This now clears the way for Penn Gaming to move to the next level to the state," Commissioner Rodney Edmondson said. Penn National was the only company to submit a proposal to the commissioners. Applications are due to the Kansas Lottery Commission by September 6.
Topeka, Kansas -- The four American Indian tribes that run casinos in Kansas are discussing ways to respond to competition if state-owned gaming complexes open in a few years. Three of the tribes are planning to bid on the state-owned casinos to keep as many customers as possible, while a fourth is considering suing the state to stop expansion of gambling in Kansas.
The Kansas Lottery Commission on Wednesday unveiled timetables for what happens next in the creation of an unprecedented state-owned casino industry. Many questions remain unanswered, including whether the seven-casino plan signed last week by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will survive a constitutional challenge. But it’s clear the roulette ball in Kansas has started to roll and is gaining speed.
