Wichita ? Developers of a destination casino complex have turned their sights toward Sumner County after Sedgwick County rejected the complex.

Four development groups have expressed interest in building a casino in Sumner County, including former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight’s group, Chisholm Creek Resort Casino, which says it would spend between $300 million and $400 million on the casino complex if given the opportunity.

Three other development groups have expressed “serious” interest, said Janis Hellars, Sumner County Economic Development Commission director, although she wouldn’t name them.

Under a gambling law enacted this year, one destination casino was allowed in south-central Kansas, either in Sedgwick or Sumner counties. Sedgwick County voters last week rejected both a destination casino and slot machines at Wichita Greyhound Park.

Hellars said she expects four developers to submit proposals to the state. An appointed board will choose a casino location for each of the four areas in the state where the state-owned casinos will be allowed.

Knight said Chisholm will submit a proposal and pay the $25 million application fee. He said the casino proposed by the developers – Chisholm Creek Ventures, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation – would bring 2,500 jobs to Sumner County.

Chisholm Creek Resort Casino LLC would prefer a location near the Kansas Turnpike, Knight said.

“It has to be strategically located,” he said. “We have multiple pieces of land optioned.”