The plans for a Sumner County casino are moving forward after the Kansas Lottery Commission approved a new contract today.
At its regularly scheduled meeting, Director of Gaming Facilities Keith Kocher presented the new contract amendments to the commission.
The two biggest issues, the hotel and the potential for tribal gaming facilities in Park City were the main focus during the two months of the negotiations.
Double Down Development has agreed to work with Chisholm Creek Casino to build a hotel on site that would include 100 rooms, plus amenities such as a pool and conventional space. Kocher said the casino would “enforce rights’ to the facility and calculate it towards the initial $225 million investment.
Along with the inclusion of the hotel in the casino contract to the state, amendments were made to help Chisholm Creek if a tribal casino by the Wyandotte Tribe is opened in Park City.
In phase one — regardless of whether a tribal gaming facility opens — within 18 months, Chisholm Creek will be required to open with a 72,000 square foot enterprise, 1,300 machines, 40 table games, 200-seat restaurant and 100-room hotel.
Should a tribal gaming facility be built within 60 months of the contract’s approval by the Facility Gaming Review Board, in phase two, within 144 months, Chisholm Creek must have a total of 1,700 machines, 50 total table games, three additional restaurants, 50 additional hotel rooms and a 10,000 square foot on-site convention space.
The contract also has stipulations in place in case the tribal gaming facility starts operating after 60 months, but before 120 months.
The amendments are only valid if a tribal casino is opened within a certain time. If the casino fails to open, Chisholm Creek Casino will be required to build out and expand as originally proposed with none of the amendments valid at that time.
The contract now also states exactly what “infrastructure” means and what could count towards the initial $225 million investment.
Now, in addition to land and buildings, costs of highways and streets, gaming equipment and software upgrades and new computer equipment will be calculated as “infrastructure” but only if a tribal casino in Park City is built.
Neither of the Southwest or Northeast zones stipulated what “infrastructure” was, because they went “well over” the minimum investment.
“This proposal does...potentially cut it closer to the bone so we had to come up with definitions on what it is that would be included in those calculations,” said Kocher.
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to make this facility work. it’s in the state’s best interest to make Chisholm Creek successful and we are in layman's terms in partnership with these folks,” Kocher said, adding the goal is to see Chisholm Creek succeed in the South Central Zone. “These amendments are intended to reach that goal if at all possible.”
Lottery officials say they are pleased the process is moving forward.
“Obviously we are pleased to reach an agreement on the amendment to the contract,” Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten said in a statement released shortly after the meeting. “We feel that this improves the chances of success for Chisholm Creek Casino and the State of Kansas.”
With the commission’s approval, the contract now moves to the Facility Gaming Review Board who will have ultimate say on whether the contract is approved or not.
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The plans for a Sumner County casino are moving forward after the Kansas Lottery Commission approved a new contract today.
At its regularly scheduled meeting, Director of Gaming Facilities Keith Kocher presented the new contract amendments to the commission.
The two biggest issues, the hotel and the potential for tribal gaming facilities in Park City were the main focus during the two months of the negotiations.
Double Down Development has agreed to work with Chisholm Creek Casino to build a hotel on site that would include 100 rooms, plus amenities such as a pool and conventional space. Kocher said the casino would “enforce rights’ to the facility and calculate it towards the initial $225 million investment.
Along with the inclusion of the hotel in the casino contract to the state, amendments were made to help Chisholm Creek if a tribal casino by the Wyandotte Tribe is opened in Park City.
In phase one — regardless of whether a tribal gaming facility opens — within 18 months, Chisholm Creek will be required to open with a 72,000 square foot enterprise, 1,300 machines, 40 table games, 200-seat restaurant and 100-room hotel.
Should a tribal gaming facility be built within 60 months of the contract’s approval by the Facility Gaming Review Board, in phase two, within 144 months, Chisholm Creek must have a total of 1,700 machines, 50 total table games, three additional restaurants, 50 additional hotel rooms and a 10,000 square foot on-site convention space.
The contract also has stipulations in place in case the tribal gaming facility starts operating after 60 months, but before 120 months.
The amendments are only valid if a tribal casino is opened within a certain time. If the casino fails to open, Chisholm Creek Casino will be required to build out and expand as originally proposed with none of the amendments valid at that time.
The contract now also states exactly what “infrastructure” means and what could count towards the initial $225 million investment.
Now, in addition to land and buildings, costs of highways and streets, gaming equipment and software upgrades and new computer equipment will be calculated as “infrastructure” but only if a tribal casino in Park City is built.
Neither of the Southwest or Northeast zones stipulated what “infrastructure” was, because they went “well over” the minimum investment.
“This proposal does...potentially cut it closer to the bone so we had to come up with definitions on what it is that would be included in those calculations,” said Kocher.
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to make this facility work. it’s in the state’s best interest to make Chisholm Creek successful and we are in layman's terms in partnership with these folks,” Kocher said, adding the goal is to see Chisholm Creek succeed in the South Central Zone. “These amendments are intended to reach that goal if at all possible.”
Lottery officials say they are pleased the process is moving forward.
“Obviously we are pleased to reach an agreement on the amendment to the contract,” Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten said in a statement released shortly after the meeting. “We feel that this improves the chances of success for Chisholm Creek Casino and the State of Kansas.”
With the commission’s approval, the contract now moves to the Facility Gaming Review Board who will have ultimate say on whether the contract is approved or not.
