Dodge City can never get ahead!

[Redhead 18]

What does Baxter Springs, (pop. 4407) and Galena, (pop. 3189) have that Dodge doesn't have? Could be that they are connected with a better promoter. Wonder how they made plans where their Casino will be built, but Dodge can not find a location.

Cherokee County casino could open by '09
Associated Press

COLUMBUS - A proposed $250 million state-owned casino and hotel in Cherokee County could open as soon as summer 2009, developers said this week.

With Route 66 and James Dean themes, the 11-story, 250-room hotel would include 29 luxury suites, a fountain near the entrance and a spa and fitness center. The casino would feature 1,200 electronic games and up to 40 table games, as well as entertainment and convention space.

Penn National Gaming Inc. has proposed the Hollywood Casino-Cherokee County to be built off I-44 near Baxter Springs and Galena, in southeast Kansas.

Under a law passed during the 2007 session, the state must approve the deal.

The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma also has shown interest in pursuing a casino in Cherokee County. The winning bidder would handle the casino's day-to-day operations.

Steve Snyder, Penn National's senior vice president for corporate development, said he expects 510 new full-time jobs in the first year and a total of 680 full-time equivalent jobs once the complex is established.

The new law allows resort casinos in Ford County, Wyandotte County, Sedgwick or Sumner County, and Crawford or Cherokee County. The law requires local voters to approve the new gambling, and Cherokee County voters overwhelming approved the casino in June.

Sedgwick County voters will vote Aug. 7 on whether to allow a casino in the county, plus slots at Wichita Greyhound Park.

[sunny beach]

Originally Posted by Redhead 18

What does Baxter Springs, (pop. 4407) and Galena, (pop. 3189) have that Dodge doesn't have? Could be that they are connected with a better promoter. Wonder how they made plans where their Casino will be built, but Dodge can not find a location....

Just because you don't know the plans for the casino here, doesn't mean there aren't any. I would venture to guess that there are plans for our casino that haven't been made public yet. I also seem to recall that Jeff Thorpe said in an interview that after the election results were certified, that there would be a 90 day waiting period for something that I can't recall at the moment. Personally, I would say that we have a pretty damn good promoter in Boot Hill Gaming. If it wasn't for the promoting that they have done, Dodge City/Ford County wouldn't even have been considered when the legislation was drawn up and voted on in Topeka!

[Mike B.]

Rumor Mill has it that the casino promoters are looking along the by-pass, out in the area where Marshal Ranch is located. I suppose, that's as good a place as any.

Next thing they'll want is for the County to make the by-pass a four lane so traffic flow will be smoother. There goes another 5 million bucks!

I find it real hard to believe that anyone will soon be sinking any serious dollars into the casino untill the Ks. Supreme Court makes a ruling on the constitutionality of State owned casinos.

I have a hunch that the court will side with the AG.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Mike B.

I have a hunch that the court will side with the AG.

Since we now have gambling would you want to bet on that? Why do you think that the court with side with the Attorney General? So you think they will nullify all the elections and say it's illegal? There is WAY too much money flowing here...just wait.

[aft_lizard01]

What does Baxter Springs and Galena have? Tulsa,OK and Springfield, MO and about 300,00 other people within a comfortable drive of the area. That doesn't mean they are guaranteed business as they are competing with Casinos in Oklahoma I believe, not sure about Missouri, but still there installed base of potential customers dwarfs Dodge City's.

[K C Muffin]

People in Missouri are still a little hesitant about gambling - NIMBY, ya know. The folks down at the Lake (of the Ozarks) voted it down. So anybody driving down to the lake or Branson is a potential customer for Springfield. There's only one tourist spot in SW Kansas and it's Boot Hill. So I would caution the good people about putting all their eggs in a casino basket or it will sit empty too. With gas supposedly getting to $4 a gallon this summer, I expect the tourist traffic in DC will be down again this year because they're only one way to get there - by car. (Air, but that's not usually a good option)

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Since we now have gambling would you want to bet on that? Why do you think that the court with side with the Attorney General? So you think they will nullify all the elections and say it's illegal? There is WAY too much money flowing here...just wait.

Army,

Reading the Wichita Eagle I understand that the AG is filing a friendly case with the Ks. Supreme Court. He stands with our Governor, in agreement that it is constitutional for the state to own the casinos.

I think the Court will not nullify SB 66 or the elections.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

People in Missouri are still a little hesitant about gambling - NIMBY, ya know.)

SOME people maybe...last time I checked there were 4 Casino's around the KC area all raking in millions....

[K C Muffin]

Yeah, but just in the metro and a couple of hours down I-70. They voted 'em down in the SE part (the lake) and down by Springfield just a couple of years ago.