Uncertainty abounds as news of a tribal casino opening in Sedgwick County has those closest to the Sumner County casino project on edge.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixon says the Wyandotte Tribe’s proposed casino in Park City has been on the minds of developers before the news hit that the casino could be done by the end of this year.
“We had several conversations about this and they [Lakes and Och Ziff officials] said they were not surprised about the potential of a casino being developed in Park City. What they were surprised about is how fast it could open up,” Hixon said.
Hixson said developers in Sumner County would be at a disadvantage because a tribal casino would be under no obligation to pay money to the state.
“They will return nothing to the state and they don’t have to pay 27 percent in gaming fees and things like that ... and that’s a competitive advantage to the Indian casino. They don’t have to have any minimal investment or building. Basically, they can put up a tin shed and have 600 slot machines — which is where the profit is in gaming — in very short order,” Hixson said.
Developers are also shocked to see Senate Bill 401 introduced to the Kansas legislature — a bill that would alter Senate Bill 66 and allow for a casino re-vote in Sedgwick County.
“They feel that is changing the rules in the middle of the game,” Hixson said.
The Mulvane City Manager doesn’t see the developers leaving Sumner County anytime soon, however.
“They seem to be committed to doing this and this group, all along I really respect them that they are very conscientious of the cost and return on investments. More so than the other developers that I have dealt with...they weren’t paying as close to the bottom line,” Hixson said.
Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) also sees Chisholm Creek moving forward with the project.
“Every time it looks like we are moving forward or something is happening in Sumner County with our casino, there is a big media article in the paper or something about the Indians being here any minute. And this is just another one,” Wetta said. “It looks like we are moving forward with the Lakes proposal.”
Wetta says the tribe will need state approval and though many are calling the Park City casino move “imminent,” Wetta doesn’t see it that way.
“You think the state is going to give them the okay to do anything if we have a state-owned casino here in Sumner County? I mean, they are going to have a hard time doing anything after all the lawsuits and everything are over with,” Wetta said. “I still think we are years away from anything being built in Park City.”
The recently-introduced Senate Bill doesn’t concern Wetta, who thinks it doesn’t have a chance at a vote.
“I don’t know if that bill is ever going to make it out of the Senate. I don’t know if that house bill will ever be heard. That bill is in a lot of trouble, I’ll just leave it at that,” Wetta said.
Sumner County Economic Development Director Janice Hellard doesn’t know what to make of the tribe’s latest update.
“It’s a hard one to even predict because we don’t even know if it will happen that soon, whether the state will get a contract negotiated, if the Bureau of Indian Affairs does okay it ... it’s hard to know,” Hellard said.
The possibility of Chisholm Creek pulling out of the project is also just as unpredictable.
“They have to look at the project and see if it is feasible in Sumner County,” Hellard said. “But they knew of the casino before that but maybe that is something they are going to have to sit down real seriously and look at.”
Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said if Chisholm Creek pulls out, Wellington is ready for round three.
“We stand, as always, ready to react to the state if that’s what’s necessary and I’ve made that message very clear a week or 10 days ago to Mr. VanPetten. We stand ready in the event that if they do, Lakes backs out and we wanted the best possible development and we think that is at Exit 19.” Collins said.
Regardless, the drama will continue to unfold as Chisholm Creek moves closer to state approval.
“I think we will know [what happens] in the near future,” Wetta said.
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Uncertainty abounds as news of a tribal casino opening in Sedgwick County has those closest to the Sumner County casino project on edge.
Mulvane City Manager Kent Hixon says the Wyandotte Tribe’s proposed casino in Park City has been on the minds of developers before the news hit that the casino could be done by the end of this year.
“We had several conversations about this and they [Lakes and Och Ziff officials] said they were not surprised about the potential of a casino being developed in Park City. What they were surprised about is how fast it could open up,” Hixon said.
Hixson said developers in Sumner County would be at a disadvantage because a tribal casino would be under no obligation to pay money to the state.
“They will return nothing to the state and they don’t have to pay 27 percent in gaming fees and things like that ... and that’s a competitive advantage to the Indian casino. They don’t have to have any minimal investment or building. Basically, they can put up a tin shed and have 600 slot machines — which is where the profit is in gaming — in very short order,” Hixson said.
Developers are also shocked to see Senate Bill 401 introduced to the Kansas legislature — a bill that would alter Senate Bill 66 and allow for a casino re-vote in Sedgwick County.
“They feel that is changing the rules in the middle of the game,” Hixson said.
The Mulvane City Manager doesn’t see the developers leaving Sumner County anytime soon, however.
“They seem to be committed to doing this and this group, all along I really respect them that they are very conscientious of the cost and return on investments. More so than the other developers that I have dealt with...they weren’t paying as close to the bottom line,” Hixson said.
Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) also sees Chisholm Creek moving forward with the project.
“Every time it looks like we are moving forward or something is happening in Sumner County with our casino, there is a big media article in the paper or something about the Indians being here any minute. And this is just another one,” Wetta said. “It looks like we are moving forward with the Lakes proposal.”
Wetta says the tribe will need state approval and though many are calling the Park City casino move “imminent,” Wetta doesn’t see it that way.
“You think the state is going to give them the okay to do anything if we have a state-owned casino here in Sumner County? I mean, they are going to have a hard time doing anything after all the lawsuits and everything are over with,” Wetta said. “I still think we are years away from anything being built in Park City.”
The recently-introduced Senate Bill doesn’t concern Wetta, who thinks it doesn’t have a chance at a vote.
“I don’t know if that bill is ever going to make it out of the Senate. I don’t know if that house bill will ever be heard. That bill is in a lot of trouble, I’ll just leave it at that,” Wetta said.
Sumner County Economic Development Director Janice Hellard doesn’t know what to make of the tribe’s latest update.
“It’s a hard one to even predict because we don’t even know if it will happen that soon, whether the state will get a contract negotiated, if the Bureau of Indian Affairs does okay it ... it’s hard to know,” Hellard said.
The possibility of Chisholm Creek pulling out of the project is also just as unpredictable.
“They have to look at the project and see if it is feasible in Sumner County,” Hellard said. “But they knew of the casino before that but maybe that is something they are going to have to sit down real seriously and look at.”
Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said if Chisholm Creek pulls out, Wellington is ready for round three.
“We stand, as always, ready to react to the state if that’s what’s necessary and I’ve made that message very clear a week or 10 days ago to Mr. VanPetten. We stand ready in the event that if they do, Lakes backs out and we wanted the best possible development and we think that is at Exit 19.” Collins said.
Regardless, the drama will continue to unfold as Chisholm Creek moves closer to state approval.
“I think we will know [what happens] in the near future,” Wetta said.
