Dodge City ? Ford County officials are asking the Kansas Lottery for more time to solicit applications for constructing a destination casino in their county.

In a June 26 election, local voters approved expanded gambling in Dodge City with 64 percent in favor. The Kansas Lottery Commission – which will own the casino and gambling equipment – gave the county until Oct. 1 to receive applications for constructing the casino and make a recommendation to the state.

But because the amount of information required in the applications, the county is asking for a deadline extension of up to 90 more days – but not later than Dec. 31 – to receive and study applications before making a recommendation.

“We realize the incredible amount of detail that has to be submitted with that plan to the Kansas Lottery,” said Jeff Thorpe, president of the Boot Hill Gaming Commission.

Earlier this month, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., received a deadline extension to Dec. 31 to submit its choices to lottery officials after receiving several applications.

Boot Hill Gaming Inc. has an “agreement in concept” for the option to purchase property for a hotel and destination casino on 390 acres at the west end of Dodge City. Boot Hill Gaming and Butler National Corp. are working on plans for the casino.

Preliminary plans include a 100-room hotel, conference facilities and restaurants and a gambling floor with 900 or more slot machines and as many as 25 gambling tables.

The casino would create an estimated 670 full-time jobs and generate between $55 million and $60 million in gross annual revenue, supporters say.

In April, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a law that permits lottery-owned casinos in four areas – Ford County, Wyandotte County, either Cherokee or Crawford county, and either Sedgwick or Sumner county.