Casino

[Clueless]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Good find, duece! Lot's of good info. I read in that where Boot Hill Gaming is a for-profit wholly owned subsidiary of Boot Hill Museum. Maybe they can put some of those profits back into Boot Hill so they can quit stealing money from the WND money.

Bubba and duece - I can answer some of this, but please believe me TexKan has wandered way off the path of even reasonable deduction and I need to try and convince her of what is truth.

Boot Hill Gaming (BHG) is a for-profit corp and owned 100% by Boot Hill Museum. BHG was created in 2004 to separate the museum's lobbying activities from it's daily mission and to create a separate identity. Boot Hill Museum (BHM) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 and it would be correct to categorize BHM as a 'private' company, but there are no shareholders. If you look at the Museum's Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws, you will find that if BHM ever ceases to exist, it's assets revert to the City of Dodge City (which it has come to the brink of in the last couple of years). So, no human-being owns either the Museum or the Gaming company. Period. If we follow that legal premise - then no individual person will benefit from profits made from owning the gaming enterprise - any profits would flow to BHM.

Where will the money come from to build a casino complex? From borrowing the funds, like any other developer. What's the collateral? A destination casino facility which has a significant capitalized value (why do you think everyone wants to be the developer-licensee?) No, back to the beginning, BHG is owned 100% by the Museum. Well then, who's getting rich? Is there private capital or investment by individuals? No individual person - so it must be the community as a whole. I know that sounds 'pollyanna', but sorry to say - it's the truth. If BHG owns the casino complex, the profits will flow back in Museum development downtown revitalization. There's no end to the investment ideas that could be funded. Being on the Museum's board of directors would now be a 'hot place to be', rather that the icy-way it's treated now. If an outside gaming organizaton, or Indian funded group, is the eventual developer, then those net profits will flow out of State.

ps - the minimum investment for Ford County is $50 Million (not $225 million, which is the minimum for the other three locations). The application fee for a Dodge casino is $5.5 Million (the others are $25 Milllion). This sized down because the casino will be smaller too.

I thought the State was the owner? The State isn't putting up any money - but will probably 'own' (as in deeded) the gaming floor. I think Dodge City's casino will be about 40,000 sq ft. of gaming floor. I thought the State had to be the operator? The State will contract with an operator (such as Butler National Corp) through a competitive application process.

What are the percentages that will be paid of gaming revenues? The new law is clear - 22% to the State, 2% to the Problem Gaming Fund, 1 1/2% to the City and 1 1/2% to the County. If it's located in the County, the full 3% goes to the County. Do we have to vote? Yes - probably June 26th. Do we vote on who the developer or operator will be? No, that decision resides with Lottery and the Gaming commission.

Why does BHG keep pushing a downtown location - or N and NW of Wright Park area? Because BHG's and the Museum's mission is to redevelop downtown - support existing entertainment facilities - and motels and restaurants along our Wyatt Earp corridor. Simple - no smoke or mirrors - that's all there is to it. If we locate the facility on the outskirts of town, BHG has more flexibility of design and growth won't have the same impact on downtown. Everything is a trade-off and at some point with any business you have to make weighted decisions. This is one of those. And, remember, it's really not a public decision, it's a private risk capital based decision.

Hope that helps - and TexKan please reconsider some of what you said, in light of what I've tried to explain.

[lurker]

Thanks Clueless because I was clueless.

Now, will the city exempt any portion of the casino from being smoke free?

You know, kinda like selective laws that single-out favors....

[Mike B.]

Clueless,

Very good explanation of how BHG and BHM operate!

Just one question. Are the County Commissioners obligated by law to have an election? In other words, let's suppose the commission fails hold an election (which would never happen) for expanded gambling in Ford County will there be repercussions from the State?

[Clueless]

Originally Posted by lurker

Thanks Clueless because I was clueless.

Now, will the city exempt any portion of the casino from being smoke free?

You know, kinda like selective laws that single-out favors....

Hey old friend ..... I haven't got a clue. I think BH Gaming would push for smoking areas - at least on the casino floor. There's some pretty sophisticated (and expensive) ventilation systems today that can make it very acceptable.

[deuce91]

Thanks for the info clueless! These were questions I've had for years, ever since I heard of the development of the Boothill Gaming Corp. I'm absolutely astounded that we would have such visionaries here in DC for the development of such a project that would better a well-known community icon and not line their own pockets. So you can understand my hesitation to be 100% in favor of it until I actually see the $$ that should go to the museum put into Boot Hill's coffers and not diverted into other's hands, as is commonly the case around here. Once again, thanks!

[Clueless]

Originally Posted by Mike B.

Clueless,

Very good explanation of how BHG and BHM operate!

Just one question. Are the County Commissioners obligated by law to have an election? In other words, let's suppose the commission fails hold an election (which would never happen) for expanded gambling in Ford County will there be repercussions from the State?

Mike B -

I would say that they are obligated. Section-6 of SB-66 states: "(a) The board of county commissioners of each county in each gaming zone shall submit by resolution to the qualified voters of the county a proposition to permit the operation of a lottery gaming facility within the county as provided by this section. The proposition shall be submitted to the voters at a special election called by the board of count commissioners for that purpose and held not more than 180 days after the effective date of this act." The effective date of the act was April 19, 2007.

I interpret this to mean they must submit the question - at a special election called for that purpose (i.e. indicating no other question on the ballot).

The Section continues with: "(b) Upon the adoption of a resolution calling for an election pursuant to this section, the county election officer shall cause the following proposition to be placed on the ballot at the election called for that purpose "Shall the Kansas lottery be authorized to operate a lottery gaming facility in Ford county?"

Again, a clear question.

[Clueless]

Originally Posted by deuce91

Thanks for the info clueless! These were questions I've had for years, ever since I heard of the development of the Boothill Gaming Corp. I'm absolutely astounded that we would have such visionaries here in DC for the development of such a project that would better a well-known community icon and not line their own pockets. So you can understand my hesitation to be 100% in favor of it until I actually see the $$ that should go to the museum put into Boot Hill's coffers and not diverted into other's hands, as is commonly the case around here. Once again, thanks!

I understand. Keep asking questions and demand answers. That will curtail rumors, or reveal truths, everytime. Anyone afraid of questions usually has something to hide....IMO

[TexKan]

Wow - really good info............ good thing I'm not the trusting kind or perhaps all this good info would have never been given till it was too late to make a difference to folks. If ya want support ya gotta state the case. Your explination was flawless. Sounds good tho. Hopefully you could reprint this in the paper so folks would actually be behind gaming and see it as a postive move. Lots of folks (not me cause I dont vote or live therre) can make or break the well laid out plans.

If I were there you would have my whole hearted support! As it is at sometime in the future you will get my hard earned $$..........LOL

Dodge could use some revitalization and South Dodge is still Dodge. It's a shame how south dodge looks so I wish ya'll well. If I hang onto my house just long enough - sooner or later it'll be worth sellin!! LOL

[Clueless]

TexKan - thanks!! I think in fairness to Boot Hill Gaming and all of their great work - this information was made law in Kansas only two week ago, so there hasn't been much time yet. I'm sure they will tell the public this and a lot more in the next few weeks. IMO this is a very important vote for DC, pro or con.

[Redhead 18]

Hi J.
You sure could be a promoter. The first question is location? It seems to me the Voters turned down the location in the park. My question is why do you insist on an off beat area? Now don’t say this is out of the flood plain, your are wrong it is in. Will the company that purchases the bonds to finance this project be told?
Another question, how will this Gaming board be able to purchase City property with out some type of Bidding process? That brings up another question. Doesn’t that mean another Indian Tribe could come in and out bid Your Gaming Board. It appears there are a million questions that need to be answered before ground is broke for the building. According to The Wichita Eagle it can be up to 3 years before any Casino can be in operation.