One Group Welcomes Sumner County Casino Delay

April 06, 2010

By Rebecca Gannon

(WICHITA, Kan.)

Another extension, and another delay. On Tuesday, casino developers requested - and received - more time to work on the proposed Sumner County Casino.

The developers say they need the extra time to see if two Kansas laws change. It will be up to the Governor to determine how much of an extension developers receive.

Developers say if they don't get more time -- they'll abandon the entire project, which is fine with one group.

Stand Up for Kansas kept casinos out of Sedgwick county three years ago. "I'm not convinced that we ever will see a casino in Sumner County," said Glenn Thompson of Stan Up for Kansas. For nearly three decades, he has fought to keep casinos out of the Sunflower State. He reflected on his most recent victory - keeping a casino out of Sedgwick County in 2007.

"I think it's very ironic that the casino industry was promoting these as destination casinos," said Thompson, "and now they're finally admitting that they are actually dependent on revenue from Wichita."

Problems have plagued the Sumner County casino for years: annexations to zoning questions to deadline delays.

Thompson wonders if Sumner County will ever build a state-run casino. "I think Sumner County is going to continue to struggle and I would not be surprised if you did not see a casino in Sumner County until the Indian Casino issue is resolved, and that's going to take years."

Just last week, Eyewitness News looked into the Tribal Casino planned for Park City, near Wild West World. A spokesperson for the developer tells us he is confident the casino will be built, but is waiting on the Department of Interior's approval.

The Sumner County developers are also waiting for that answer before they propose things like extra turnpike exits for the proposed Mulvane casino.

Today's extension for the Sumner County casino developers is the second one they've requested. Aside from the tribal casino proposal, developers say they are concerned about smoking laws in casinos, and the potential for slot machines at Kansas race tracks.

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