Casino

Bad for businesses.  That's that stance the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce came out with Wednesday about a casino in Sedgwick Countyy.  "I think as an organization concerned about growing businesses, growing community we wanted to provide this as a decision making cue," Chamber  President Bryan Derreberry. Derreberry says after months of research and consideration, 60% of its board decided a casino would not help attract new businesses.  "I think anything that creates a greater social cost, public safety cost, those are dollars that can't go to other services.

On Tuesday, voters decide whether expanded gambling will make its way to Sedgwick County. The tactics both sides are using during the final campaign hours are just as opposite as their views. Vote Yes Committee members are laying low until Tuesday.  The group says it's reached out to enough people.  It's now up to supporters to go out and vote. On the other hand, the Vote No committee plans to continue posting "Vote No" signs, and call voters to encourage them to vote against the casino.

by Cliff Judy Four Wichita pastors spoke out against a casino in Sedgwick County and Sunday liquor sales.  They say gambling and Sunday sales would hurt the black and Hispanic community. The pastors spoke to a small gathering in front of Century II Monday morning.  They're hoping to urge a large voter turnout for the August 7 special election. While some spoke of the possibility of future problems, Reverend Peggy Elliott talked about her father who was a professional gambler and committed suicide.

Update: TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A group hoping to build a casino south of Wichita says it has a firm plan to build a hotel soon after the casino opens. An attorney representing partners in the Chisholm Creek casino proposal said Monday that a group of mostly Kansas investors has committed to building a 100-room hotel for the project. The attorney, John Frieden, said the hotel would open by March 2012, six months after the casino. The Chisholm Creek partners expected to outline their plan during a meeting of the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, which will determine whether its project outside Mulvane goes forward.

Provisional ballots did not change the results of the Sedgwick County casino election. You'll remember, the slots measure failed by just 343 votes last Tuesday.  Elections officials spent Monday tallying provisional ballots. But, in the end, there were not enough "yes" votes to change the outcome of the election. Election Commissioner Bill Gale says in his experience, provisional ballots rarely change the outcome of a vote, but he admits it is possible especially with the vote as close as it is. Proposition #1 No 58,035 Yes 45,410 Proposition #2 No 51,863 Yes 51,617 Eyewitness News will follow the developments as the votes are counted, count on us to let you know what happens.

Investors say they'll definitely build a casino in Sumner County if Sedgwick County residents vote no to a casino resolution on Tuesday. Sumner County residents have previously voted two-to-one for casinos, and officials are anxious for the chance to build one near the Kansas Turnpike outside of Wellington. Recently, casino opponents have tried to say a "No" vote in Sedgwick County would keep casinos out of the region entirely. They say they don't believe investors would be willing to build a facility in less-populated Sumner County.

Lawmakers approved it, developers are ready for it, but voters will have the final say on whether a casnio will be built in Sedgwick County.  The election is August 7th.  Voters will be asked if they want a casnio and if they want slot machines at Greyhound Park. Tuesday a group of community, business, and religious leaders spoke out about why they want you to vote no. They say a casino will not be the economic boost many people believe. A Kansas Lottery report estimates a Sedgwick County destination casino would generate about $160 million in gaming revenue a year.

You can't miss it, whether you're driving by, or for some, looking out your back door. "The casino is right across the street from our back yard. We back up to Hwy 81 and the casino will back up to Hwy 81. " Ron and Netta Swihart fought the casino going in, and were less than thrilled to see proof that it's really happening. "We knew this was a long time coming but it was very disappointing to us. " Dirt work started at the site, near the Mulvane exit on the Turnpike, a couple weeks ago. And for a lot of people who don't live across the street, it's what they've been waiting years to see. Mulvane City Administrator Kent Hixson tells Eyewitness News, "There is a level of excitement but there's also a level of relief.

The outcome of a lawsuit between Cherokee County and Penn National Gaming may be determined at trial. Both sides say there's been no settlement during mediation talks. In 2008, Cherokee County filed a lawsuit against Penn National. The suit alleges a breach of contract. The county is seeking $53 million in damages. The casino company decided not to build a casino in Cherokee County after winning the contract by the state. Southeast Kansas remains the only casino zone to either not have a casino or not have one in the works.

Kansas is making one of the biggest gains for commercial casinos. Last year Kansas had a 603% increase in revenue. The American Gaming Association says revenue at non-Indian casinos hit more than $37 billion last year.  That's just under the all time high in 2007. Click here to see the gaming report Kansas along with Maryland, New York and Maine are the four states with the biggest gains.  All four states opened new casinos in 2012. In Kansas, the Hollywood Casino in Wyandotte County opened in February 2012.  And 2012 was the first full year for Mulvane's Kansas Star casino.

The state of Kansas continued a push Thursday to block a casino from being built in Park City. The Wyandotte nation wants to build a casino on land it bought near Wild West World. But before that can happen, the federal government has to put the land into a trust.     The tribe took the government to court to force a decision because the application has been in for years. The state argued in federal court that the government should not be forced to make a decision by a judge.

Authorities are investigating a prostitute soliciting customers in the parking lot of the Kansas Star Casino. Mulvane Police say about a week ago they arrested a woman after surveillance cameras captured her putting business cards on windshields of cars in the casino parking lot.  The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission checked the cards and called police. Police say they setup a meeting with the woman and met her in a hotel room connected to the casino. The hotel is not owned by the casino.   Police say a man was also working with the woman, but they did not find him. The woman has a Wichita address and is either 25 or 26 years old. She's had no prior arrests.

The Kansas Star Casino has meant lower taxes, money for students and teachers, and even lower electric bills. In just one year, the casino has had an impact on Mulvane and Sumner County. “The majority of it is good,” says Luciano Mottola, owner of Luciano's restaurant in Mulvane. He enjoying lower taxes and more customers since the casino opened. Others in Mulvane are also enjoying the benefits. “Honestly I was against it when they first opened up, but it has had a positive effect on the community,” says Donetta Summers who lives in Mulvane and works at the restaurant.

It's been nearly seven years and still there's no official word if Park City will get an Indian casino.  The Wyandotte Nation has been fighting since 2006 for the right to develop land near the old Wild West World site. The hold up is within the U.S.Department of the Interior, the same agency that's now looking for a new leader after Secretary Ken Salazar announced he would not be around for a second term. Court papers show the tribe has had a land trust application on file with the federal government since 2006.  But the Interior Department has taken no action, leaving 10 acres of Park City land untouched.  The Wyandotte Nation says it bought the property in 1992 using money specifically set aside by the U.S. Congress to put land in trust for the tribe's benefit.  Salazar completed an entire four year term without a decision and tribal leaders say that's just wrong.

Another year, another phase for the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane.  The full casino opened Friday in its permanent home. The new facility includes a lot more options, there are more than 1,800 slots, 45 table games and 10 poke tables.  Several restaurants also opened and the casino hired more staff. Since there is so much going on, the casino's manager is asking for the public to be patient with them.  "It's been our first week of opening, so it will take us awhile to settle in exactly how we cover the floor and how our customers are serviced, but we're committed to extraordinary customers service," said Kansas Star Manager Scott Cooper.

Mulvane's Kansas Star Casino partially reopened after a two day shut down.  Workers moved all of the games and slot machines out of the temporary building onto the new permanent casino floor. "The partial opening is a necessary part of the transition process," said general manager Scott Cooper. "The wait will certainly be worth it when we open the full casino in nine days. " The grand opening is December 21st. Click For Photos of New Casino Location Right now, about 60% of the slot machines are available for play.  When the grand opening happens, the casino will house 1,829 slots, 45 table games, 10 poker tables and five restaurants.

Life in downtown Mulvane moves like it did a year ago.  A one-point-six million dollar payment from its new neighbor to the east hasn't sped it up.  But City Administrator Kent Hixson says the Kansas Star Casino is quickly cutting some bills. "Some of that gaming revenue has allowed us to lower our electric rate for our citizens in east Mulvane by 5-percent,” Hixson said. Hixson says the casino also helped the city lower its property taxes by about 10-percent. "And that is due directly to the increased in the assessed valuation or the property tax of the city because of the casino,” Hixson said.

The Kansas Star Casino is closed for a couple of days so it can move into its permanent location.  Workers are moving 1,400 slot machines from the current facility to the new one.  The move started December 2nd. “It's a multiple hour process, multiple day process.  Moving 1-2 machines might sound relatively easy, do it for 8-10 hours, not so much,” said slot machine manager Alli Biar. The slot machines are going to a permanent location on the other side of the building.  That side will open Wednesday.

In just under three hours, the Kansas Star Casino will be shut down temporarily. The Kansas Star Casino will close at midnight tonight to prepare for a partial opening of its permanent gaming floor on Wednesday. During that three-day hiatus, crews will begin to move 1,400 slot machines and 35 table games. The Casino plans to open the gaming floor in its entirety on Decemeber 21. This month is also the one year anniversary of the casino's opening in Mulvane. During that year, the casino reports that it has created almost 1,000 jobs and contributed significantly to city and county governments.