Dodge City Casino

[lurker]

It looks like our Legislature is beginning to ignore the horse racing lobby's desire to get a track in Dodge City AND they are talking about a real casino out here.

Gambling coalition wants to rework its legislation

By Carl Manning

The Associated Press


TOPEKA - Even before its bill is out of committee, a coalition of gambling supporters is pushing to change the legislation to focus more on casinos than slot machines at pari-mutuel racetracks.

Dubbed the "industry bill," it was considered Monday by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee in a room packed with spectators, many wearing yellow stickers of support. The committee will consider two other bills this week focusing on casinos.

Chairman Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, said the committee will vote next week, but added, "I have no idea at this point which will come out."

The Kansas Wins! coalition wants to change its bill, which calls for casinos in Kansas City, Kan., and southeast Kansas, as well as slots at horse and dog tracks in Crawford, Sedgwick and Wyandotte counties, and in Dodge City if a track is built and voters approve having slots there.

Coalition spokesman Doug Lawrence said the group now wants to have a casino rather than slots in Dodge City and add Sumner and Sedgwick counties as areas where there could be a casino. Sumner County voters in 2005 authorized a casino; Sedgwick County voters would have until the end of the year to decide.

Whatever version emerges from the committee, supporters of the industry bill will try to amend its provisions to whatever is being debated.

"We're going to see to it that the House has an opportunity to vote on the proposals we have on the table," Lawrence said.

He said by the fifth year, the industry bill would generate some $800 million. The state would get about $200 million as its share to fix buildings on college campuses, provide property tax relief, bolster the state pension fund while giving a 3 percent cost-of-living increase to retirees and providing money for general government programs.

Among those attending the committee hearing was Mark Goodrum, a Wellington real estate developer who said he can drive from his hometown to an Oklahoma casino in about a half hour.

03/13/2007; 02:30:55 AM

We might be able to reach economic equilibrium with our Spatial Events Center IF a casino is attached.

The Original Boot Hill Casino, Dodge City, Kansas

Now that's a way to make money -- love the sinner, hate the sin -- if Kansas is going to have casinos -- might as well do it right and draw them in by the bus load ..... (

[Army_of_One]

Yup yup...I said this before and I'll say it again. A casino doesn't discriminate and will draw people from hundreds of miles away. One of the main argument against a casino is it will bring crime...since Dodge City is inundated with crime will that really matter? With a casino comes business that will follow the crowd (money?). AND maybe we can keep some of the money flowing to mexico in Dodge.

[Quietly]

I've heard talk of casinos in Dodge before, but I suspect this bill will go nowhere, just like all the gaming bills that have been introduced over the past several years. The Legislature seems strangely unwilling to let people vote on this issue, and that's what would have to happen before any community, let alone Dodge, gets a casino.

I don't care whether Dodge gets a casino, but I do think we (and the other counties where expanded gaming is proposed) should be allowed to vote on the issue.

Bottom line: If you want a casino in Dodge, start writing to the lawmakers who represent this district. They need to know how their constituents feel.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...since Dodge City is inundated with crime will that really matter?....

Maybe with the crime that the casino would bring, it would be a higher class, ritzy kinda crime, instead of the run-of-the-mill graffitti, and drive-by shootings.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Maybe with the crime that the casino would bring, it would be a higher class, ritzy kinda crime, instead of the run-of-the-mill graffitti, and drive-by shootings.

I'm curious...what is higher class, ritzy crime?

[Bubba]

I don't know, I was talking out my @ss, it sounded good in my head so I wrote it down. Give me awhile to think about it.

[Lone Gunman]

Higher class of crime means they'll hire someone to paint graffitti on you house. That way you know you got the best.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bubba

I don't know, I was talking out my @ss, it sounded good in my head so I wrote it down. Give me awhile to think about it.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything because I'm sure in a way you are right. With gambling probably comes more theft and such. I'm not sure. We already run the gamet here from petty theft, vandalism to rape and murder. Maybe some of the casino tax money could go to fund more police officers or better yet have the ones we have enforce the law.

[TexKan]

I think you would see crime go up but more of the theft - folks with money brings theft - seems like. It also brings the ills of addictive gambling and such. Course ya already got addictive drinkin in dodge so that shouldn't change much - you would just have more. You would also surely have the female entertainment that goes with high rollers and of course the drugs that go with it. Yep I think you would see more crime but you would also see more money - guess ya gotta wiegh the pros and cons. Dodge would certainley never be the same. You can forget having that lazy quiet small town feel - that will definatley go by the wayside.

I don't know - but I do think it should at least be voted on.