The race is one yet again for a Sumner County casino.
At 2 p.m., today, three proposals were turned into the Kansas Lottery for a chance to own and operate a state-owned casino in the South Central Gaming Zone.
At 9:45 a.m., Kansas Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center was submitted by applicant Peninsula Partners, LLC. That site would be at Exit 33 near Mulvane.
Less than two hours later at 11:20 a.m., Global Gaming, LLC entered their proposal for a casino at Exit 19 near Wellington — the only proposal for the county seat. The race is on yet again for a Sumner County casino.
A third and final applicant — Harrah’s Kansas — applied with the lottery at 12:45 p.m for two sites with one in Mulvane and the other near Mulvane.
The Kansas Lottery reopened bids in the South Central Gaming Zone after the developers for Chisholm Creek Casino withdrew their application in April. In November 2008, the first approved casino for the South Central Zone, Sumner County Joint Venture (Harrah’s), also withdrew. Both developers cited economic conditions as the reason for their withdrawals.
City and state officials have mixed feelings about the proposals.
“My governing body and the community is excited about the opportunity for round three and of the potential gaming in Wellington, Kansas. We are convinced it is the best site. It is shovel-ready and we will continue to work toward that end to having gaming in Wellington, Kansas.” said Wellington City Manager Gus Collins.
Wellington Chamber of Commerce Director Shelley Hansel-Williams says she’s not surprised at the multiple applications.
“We knew that Mulvane was going to be back in the hunt, but I’m just excited about the proposal that we have at Exit 19...we are very confident and excited about our proposal. We feel that with the reputation of this company, with all the projects that they have in Oklahoma and the I-35 corridor, that Exit 19 and Wellington just fits...
“I haven’t even seen all of [the proposal], but what I have seen is amazing. It is perfect for our community, for our county. It is something we can all be very proud of. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that the state and the powers that be will do the right thing,” Hansel-Williams said.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixson feels the number of proposals near Exit 33 speaks for itself.
“I think business goes where they can do best and the fact that consistently we have had applications throughout this multi-year process at Exit 33...you just figure that those very intelligent people have studied the business models to the point they go, ‘This is the place where we can do the best and make the most money.’ I rely on that in terms of where is the best location for this casino and where it is going to succeed. Businesses and the developers have consistently picked Exit 33, so that in and of its self speaks volumes. Of course we are pleased, to have multiple applications and we’ll work with the developers to see what we can do to bring this thing to fruition,” Hixson said.
He says there are no hard feelings between Mulvane and Harrah’s.
“You know, the world is upside down...we’ve gone through extraordinary economic times so we never had any heartburn with the fact that Harrah’s had to pull out at all. It was perfectly understandable. [We’re] glad to have them back and [are] looking forward to working with them,” Hixson said.
The lottery has 90 days, until Oct. 20, to review the applications and negotiate contracts with the applicants. The lottery will forward any contracts that are negotiated to the seven-member Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board for its consideration. The Review Board will then have 60 days to forward its choice to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission for approval.
Specifics on the casino proposals won’t be made public until after they are voted on by the Lottery Commission and sent to the review board, Lottery spokesperson Sally Lundsford said.
Officials near both locations are hoping the third time is the charm.
“We have fought the good fight and as we have said all along, we have done this the right way, and I think this is just going to be the time...this is it,” Hansel-Williams said. “I’m confident, once again, cautiously optimistic, that the state is going to do the right thing and go with an Exit 19 proposal.”
State Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) isn’t as certain.
“We’ve been through this now twice before ... they better get it right this time,” he said
A third and final applicant — Harrah’s Kansas — applied with the lottery at 12:45 p.m for two sites with one in Mulvane and the other near Mulvane.
The Kansas Lottery reopened bids in the South Central Gaming Zone after the developers for Chisholm Creek Casino withdrew their application in April 2010. In November 2008, the first approved casino for the South Central Zone, Sumner County Joint Venture (Harrah’s), also withdrew. Both developers cited economic conditions as the reason for their withdrawals.
City and state officials have mixed feelings about the proposals.
“My governing body and the community is excited about the opportunity for round three and of the potential gaming in Wellington, Kansas. We are convinced it is the best site. It is shovel-ready and we will continue to work toward that end to having gaming in Wellington, Kansas.” said Wellington City Manager Gus Collins.
Wellington Chamber of Commerce Director Shelley Hansel-Williams says she’s not surprised at the multiple applications.
“We knew that Mulvane was going to be back in the hunt, but I’m just excited about the proposal that we have at Exit 19...we are very confident and excited about our proposal. We feel that with the reputation of this company, with all the projects that they have in Oklahoma and the I-35 corridor, that Exit 19 and Wellington just fits...”
“I haven’t even seen all of [the proposal], but what I have seen is amazing. It is perfect for our community, for our county. It is something we can all be very proud of. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that the state and the powers that be will do the right thing,” said Hansel-Williams.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixson feels the number of proposals near Exit 33, however, speaks for itself.
“I think business goes where they can do best and the fact that consistently we have had applications throughout this multi-year process at Exit 33...you just figure that those very intelligent people have studied the business models to the point they go, ‘This is the place where we can do the best and make the most money.’ I rely on that in terms of where is the best location for this casino and where it is going to succeed. Businesses and the developers have consistently picked Exit 33, so that in and of itself speaks volumes. Of course we are pleased, to have multiple applications and we’ll work with the developers to see what we can do to bring this thing to fruition.” said Hixson.
He says there are no hard feelings between Mulvane and Harrah’s.
“You know, the world is upside down...we’ve gone through extraordinary economic times so we never had any heartburn with the fact that Harrah’s had to pull out at all. It was perfectly understandable. [We’re] glad to have them back and [are] looking forward to working with them,” said Hixson.
The lottery has 90 days, until Oct. 20, 2010, to review the applications and negotiate contracts with the applicants. The lottery will forward any contracts that are negotiated to the seven-member Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board for its consideration. The Review Board will then have 60 days to forward its choice to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission for approval.
Specifics on the casino proposals won’t be made public until after they are voted on by the Lottery Commission and sent to the review board, Lottery spokesperson Sally Lundsford said.
Officials near both locations are hoping this time, the third time is the charm.
“We have fought the good fight and as we have said all along, we have done this the right way and I think this is just going to be the time...this is it,” said Hansel-Williams. “I’m confident, once again, cautiously optimistic, that the state is going to do the right thing and go with an Exit 19 proposal,”
State Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) isn’t as certain.
“We’ve been through this now twice before...they better get it this time,” said Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington).
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The race is one yet again for a Sumner County casino.
At 2 p.m., today, three proposals were turned into the Kansas Lottery for a chance to own and operate a state-owned casino in the South Central Gaming Zone.
At 9:45 a.m., Kansas Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center was submitted by applicant Peninsula Partners, LLC. That site would be at Exit 33 near Mulvane.
Less than two hours later at 11:20 a.m., Global Gaming, LLC entered their proposal for a casino at Exit 19 near Wellington — the only proposal for the county seat. The race is on yet again for a Sumner County casino.
A third and final applicant — Harrah’s Kansas — applied with the lottery at 12:45 p.m for two sites with one in Mulvane and the other near Mulvane.
The Kansas Lottery reopened bids in the South Central Gaming Zone after the developers for Chisholm Creek Casino withdrew their application in April. In November 2008, the first approved casino for the South Central Zone, Sumner County Joint Venture (Harrah’s), also withdrew. Both developers cited economic conditions as the reason for their withdrawals.
City and state officials have mixed feelings about the proposals.
“My governing body and the community is excited about the opportunity for round three and of the potential gaming in Wellington, Kansas. We are convinced it is the best site. It is shovel-ready and we will continue to work toward that end to having gaming in Wellington, Kansas.” said Wellington City Manager Gus Collins.
Wellington Chamber of Commerce Director Shelley Hansel-Williams says she’s not surprised at the multiple applications.
“We knew that Mulvane was going to be back in the hunt, but I’m just excited about the proposal that we have at Exit 19...we are very confident and excited about our proposal. We feel that with the reputation of this company, with all the projects that they have in Oklahoma and the I-35 corridor, that Exit 19 and Wellington just fits...
“I haven’t even seen all of [the proposal], but what I have seen is amazing. It is perfect for our community, for our county. It is something we can all be very proud of. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that the state and the powers that be will do the right thing,” Hansel-Williams said.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixson feels the number of proposals near Exit 33 speaks for itself.
“I think business goes where they can do best and the fact that consistently we have had applications throughout this multi-year process at Exit 33...you just figure that those very intelligent people have studied the business models to the point they go, ‘This is the place where we can do the best and make the most money.’ I rely on that in terms of where is the best location for this casino and where it is going to succeed. Businesses and the developers have consistently picked Exit 33, so that in and of its self speaks volumes. Of course we are pleased, to have multiple applications and we’ll work with the developers to see what we can do to bring this thing to fruition,” Hixson said.
He says there are no hard feelings between Mulvane and Harrah’s.
“You know, the world is upside down...we’ve gone through extraordinary economic times so we never had any heartburn with the fact that Harrah’s had to pull out at all. It was perfectly understandable. [We’re] glad to have them back and [are] looking forward to working with them,” Hixson said.
The lottery has 90 days, until Oct. 20, to review the applications and negotiate contracts with the applicants. The lottery will forward any contracts that are negotiated to the seven-member Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board for its consideration. The Review Board will then have 60 days to forward its choice to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission for approval.
Specifics on the casino proposals won’t be made public until after they are voted on by the Lottery Commission and sent to the review board, Lottery spokesperson Sally Lundsford said.
Officials near both locations are hoping the third time is the charm.
“We have fought the good fight and as we have said all along, we have done this the right way, and I think this is just going to be the time...this is it,” Hansel-Williams said. “I’m confident, once again, cautiously optimistic, that the state is going to do the right thing and go with an Exit 19 proposal.”
State Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) isn’t as certain.
“We’ve been through this now twice before ... they better get it right this time,” he said
A third and final applicant — Harrah’s Kansas — applied with the lottery at 12:45 p.m for two sites with one in Mulvane and the other near Mulvane.
The Kansas Lottery reopened bids in the South Central Gaming Zone after the developers for Chisholm Creek Casino withdrew their application in April 2010. In November 2008, the first approved casino for the South Central Zone, Sumner County Joint Venture (Harrah’s), also withdrew. Both developers cited economic conditions as the reason for their withdrawals.
City and state officials have mixed feelings about the proposals.
“My governing body and the community is excited about the opportunity for round three and of the potential gaming in Wellington, Kansas. We are convinced it is the best site. It is shovel-ready and we will continue to work toward that end to having gaming in Wellington, Kansas.” said Wellington City Manager Gus Collins.
Wellington Chamber of Commerce Director Shelley Hansel-Williams says she’s not surprised at the multiple applications.
“We knew that Mulvane was going to be back in the hunt, but I’m just excited about the proposal that we have at Exit 19...we are very confident and excited about our proposal. We feel that with the reputation of this company, with all the projects that they have in Oklahoma and the I-35 corridor, that Exit 19 and Wellington just fits...”
“I haven’t even seen all of [the proposal], but what I have seen is amazing. It is perfect for our community, for our county. It is something we can all be very proud of. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that the state and the powers that be will do the right thing,” said Hansel-Williams.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixson feels the number of proposals near Exit 33, however, speaks for itself.
“I think business goes where they can do best and the fact that consistently we have had applications throughout this multi-year process at Exit 33...you just figure that those very intelligent people have studied the business models to the point they go, ‘This is the place where we can do the best and make the most money.’ I rely on that in terms of where is the best location for this casino and where it is going to succeed. Businesses and the developers have consistently picked Exit 33, so that in and of itself speaks volumes. Of course we are pleased, to have multiple applications and we’ll work with the developers to see what we can do to bring this thing to fruition.” said Hixson.
He says there are no hard feelings between Mulvane and Harrah’s.
“You know, the world is upside down...we’ve gone through extraordinary economic times so we never had any heartburn with the fact that Harrah’s had to pull out at all. It was perfectly understandable. [We’re] glad to have them back and [are] looking forward to working with them,” said Hixson.
The lottery has 90 days, until Oct. 20, 2010, to review the applications and negotiate contracts with the applicants. The lottery will forward any contracts that are negotiated to the seven-member Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board for its consideration. The Review Board will then have 60 days to forward its choice to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission for approval.
Specifics on the casino proposals won’t be made public until after they are voted on by the Lottery Commission and sent to the review board, Lottery spokesperson Sally Lundsford said.
Officials near both locations are hoping this time, the third time is the charm.
“We have fought the good fight and as we have said all along, we have done this the right way and I think this is just going to be the time...this is it,” said Hansel-Williams. “I’m confident, once again, cautiously optimistic, that the state is going to do the right thing and go with an Exit 19 proposal,”
State Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) isn’t as certain.
“We’ve been through this now twice before...they better get it this time,” said Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington).
