Horton ? Horton officials are concerned a plan to open a new casino in Wyandotte County could lead to the closure of two casinos in their northeastern Kansas county.

In late January, committees in both the state House and Senate heard testimony on a plan to build a new casino in Wyandotte County, near Kansas Speedway. The casino would be managed jointly by the Sac and Fox Nation and the Kickapoo Tribe. Both those tribes currently operate smaller casinos in Brown County.

Although no decisions have been made, the tribes have indicated they might close their Brown County casinos after the new one opens. And that possibility has Horton officials preparing to fire off a letter of protest.

Horton City Administrator Mike Leighton said he intended to have a letter drafted within 30 days that would urge federal, state and local lawmakers not to let that happen.

“I don’t care if they open a casino in Wyandotte County,” Mr. Leighton said. “I just don’t want them to close these.”

Representatives for the Sac and Fox and the Kickapoo tribes could not be reached for comment.

The tribes will have to negotiate the casino proposal with the state. The current proposal is for a 250-room hotel and gaming resort, which the tribes estimate would attract 7 million to 9 million gamblers each year.

The projected cost is $175 million.

Brown County officials doubt the Wyandotte casino itself would do any harm.

Although County Commissioner Glen Leitch noted there were “only so many gamblers to go around,” he said the casinos already operating in Kansas City haven’t hurt Brown County.