Kansas Gaming Board Faces Casino Version of Groundhog Day
Once again, Kansas has seen its leading applicant to develop an instate casino withdraw after being selected. Golden Gaming used the familiar excuse that recessionary conditions prevent it from going forward to establish casino gambling in Wyandotte County, Kansas.Over two years ago, the state Lottery Board was given permission to open as many as four casinos inside Kansas borders. Government officials rejoiced, and plans on how to spend all the new revenue popped up from every direction.
But the process to sift through the applicants became tedious and dreary, as a list was studied for months before being advanced, without a single addition or change, to the next level. Finally, the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board would spend just a few more long moths to announce the winners last fall.
But a funny thing happened on the way to harvest the Golden Goose. The economy crashed, and suddenly new gaming resorts were the last place investors wanted to sink their money. Financing became impossible, and projections for Kansas revenues made the construction of new venues not such a slam-dunk.
Pinnacle, Cordish Company, and Las Vegas Sands have all spent time in Kansas. All left, deciding that conditions placed on casino opportunities by the state, combined with dwindling expenditures on gambling and travel by US residents made bailing the best choice.
Now, Golden Gaming is out, by their choice. Kansas officials express disappointment and try to keep moving... if not forward, at all.
“There are many opportunities along the I-70 corridor and we believe a first-class entertainment and gaming destination in western Wyandotte County will spark continued interest in surrounding cities,” said the mayor of Edwardsville, hopeful host of a future casino.
Meanwhile the lottery is trying to work out potential contracts with the two remaining bidders. Then, by June 30th, it will advance those possible deals to the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, which will then...
Recent Comments
| Posted by: no name | When: 05/24/2009 04:07:07 AM EST |
| I have lost my faith in the Kansas Gaming and Racing Commission, the Kansas Lottery, my Kansas lawmakers for not trying hard enough to get more casinos built in this state. Millions of dollars have drained out of the Kansas economy(even though their are Native American casions in northeast ks)to Missouri riveboat casinos and Oklahoma Native American casinos. You can't blame the economy on Kansas folly of state owned casinos, demanding fees up front before they do do business in our state. I know one casino will be ready way out in western Kanasas by the fall, and the other casino south of Wichita has a long ways go before it starts bringing money into the state. My guess in 2010. But what about Southeast Kansas. You can't blame all those casinos in Northeast Ok. If we had a casino located in SEK, it would create competition with them. I JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE. If I want to gamble in my part of the state, where there are no casinos, I guess I will have to join my fellow Kansans and drive out of state. This is so stupid and it shouldn't be this way! | |
