Equity Ventures has a partnership with two former top officials of Mandalay Resort Group for a state-owned casino in south-central Kansas. Equity spokeswoman Nancy Seitz says the Topeka firm and its partners will file an application for the Sumner County casino with the Kansas Lottery before the 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline. The partners are Mike Ensign, former CEO of Mandalay, and Peter Simon, a senior vice president.

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.