For the second day this week, Penn National executives stood before the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board with their presentation for a state owned and operated casino.
    The Penn National Gaming proposal for a centrally-located Sumner County casino with their signature Hollywood Casino theme was made Thursday afternoon, in a significantly less crowded Belle Plaine High School auditorium.
    Presentations began Thursday morning with Harrah’s Entertainment, which had the auditorium at full-capacity with both Harrah’s supporters and protesters against a casino located at Exit 33 of the Kansas Turnpike.
    In a shocking turn Tuesday in their Cherokee County presentation, Penn officials told the review board their proposal for Cherokee County hinges on the decision in Sumner County — if they are not selected as the casino manager for Sumner County they may not go through with plans to develop a Hollywood Casino in the southeastern gaming zone.
    Tim Wilmott, president and chief operating officer for Penn National, expressed absolute confidence in Sumner County and said, “it doesn’t go both ways.”
    Wilmott said their company would create a synergy for the state by managing both casino locations, as well as a player’s reward club that would share information between the two properties.
    Again, the afternoon meeting began with comments from board chairman Matt All and Keith Kocher, director of gaming facilities.
    Kocher detailed the contract Penn has negotiated with the state and said they may be the only casino operator in any gaming zone to increase the state’s percentage of gaming revenues at the lowest tier of revenue generations.
    The Hollywood Casino theme was also given new light through a video during the Penn National presentation, which introduced the rooftop entertainment venue proposed for their site.
    Wilmott called the theme “dynamic and timeless” and said their museum inside the casino could include Hollywood memorabilia from dresses worn by Marilyn Monroe to the Batmobile to a model of the Titanic used in filming.
    Steve Snyder, senior vice president for corporate development, said the company’s decision to locate their proposal centrally in Sumner County came after a lot of leg work talking with landowners, chamber directors, business owners and more at both exits of the Kansas Turnpike.
    They settled on a site near Wellington without ever attempting to purchase land near Mulvane, he said, and were confident in that decision based on the Sedgwick County vote against the casino, wherein 82 percent of the citizens of Mulvane who live in Sedgwick County voted against a casino.
    “We will focus on Wellington as a catalyst for economic growth in the core of Sumner County, the heart of Sumner County,” Snyder said.
    That focus, according to Eric Schippers, vice president of public affairs and community relations, includes funding for the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce and Sumner County Economic Development Commission, a foundation to support revitalization of downtown business facades in Wellington’s national historic district, and retiring the mortgage of the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas.
    Local residents spoke to their appreciation of these commitments, including Bank of Commerce President J.C. Long who said Penn has been a community event sponsor and partner to Wellington.
    Scott Oathout, president of the board of directors for Challenger Learning Center of Kansas, said, “They were the only gaming facility who took the time to tour our facility and see what we offer.”
    Oathout said additionally, Penn has committed to funding missions for 700 students across Sumner County.
    “They see the importance of education and developing our engineers and scientists of tomorrow,” Oathout said.
    Vivian Hay, a former and long-time Chamber of Commerce executive, said the company’s downtown commitment to Wellington will help the image of Wellington while giving small business owners new customers and the opportunity for increased tourism.
    “Penn lives and buys local, and as a former Chamber director I can’t emphasize that enough,” Hay said.
    Tim Malone with Castle Development also spoke in favor of Penn.  His company is looking at developing residential housing in support of new employees for the casino development east of Wellington on US 160.
    During questions from the board, Penn executives refuted the conclusion of analysists that the nine minute drive time between Wellington and Mulvane casino locations would have an impact on tourism numbers because as “the only game in town” they would have no problem drawing tourists from the north.
    Casino presentations continue in Belle Plaine today, with Marvel Gaming presenting the Trailhead Casino and Resort at 9 a.m.
    Public Comments will follow in the afternoon session of the meetings before the board.