Casino developers make their pitches

Wyandotte County proposals range from $620M to $800M

Gambling in Kansas

Topeka ? A high-stakes contest Tuesday was under way as developers seeking a lucrative contract to build and operate a casino in Wyandotte County pitched their proposals to state gambling officials.

The Kansas Lottery Commission will determine whether the proposals pass basic requirements of the state’s new casino law. The commission will meet Tuesday, its deadline to make those decisions.

Then another group, the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, will select the winning proposal later this year.

“We wanted to give each of the applicants an opportunity to personally address the commissioners,” said Lottery executive director Ed Van Petten.

Under the casino law, the state will allow a casino in Ford, Sumner and Wyandotte counties. Earlier this month, the commission endorsed a contract with Penn National Gaming Inc., the sole bidder for a casino in Cherokee County.

The five groups vying to build a casino in Wyandotte County have proposed sites in the area of Interstates 70 and 435, near the Kansas Speedway and Village West.

All promised to build a resort-type destination in the range of about $620 million to nearly $800 million, offering first-class casinos, hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment.

And several noted that the casino would have an edge over riverboat casinos in Kansas City, Mo., because of expansive property to build on and the fact that Missouri has a law that limits a player’s loss to $500 per gambling excursion. Kansas has no such limit.

The Las Vegas-based Sands Corp. proposed a $772 million project with 5,000 slot machines.

Legends Sun mapped out a $767 million development with 2,000 slots and an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course.

Pinnacle Entertainment offered a $624 million project with 2,300 slots and a river walk that would connect with the proposed Schlitterbahn Vacation Village.

Kansas Entertainment proposed a $681 million facility with a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with 3,000 slots located outside of turn 2 at the Kansas Speedway.

And Golden Heartland proposed a $662 million casino resort with 2,500 slots and an 18-hole golf course in Bonner Springs designed by Tom Watson.

Golf courses, Hard Rock Hotel among gambling plans

A breakdown of the various proposals for state-owned and operated casinos in Wyandotte County, based on information by the developers:

Golden Heartland Casino

LOCATION: 300 N. 110th St., Edwardsville.

THEME: Transitional Midwestern luxury.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: $630 million in casino resort; $32 million golf course in Bonner Springs.

NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES: 2,500.

AVERAGE DAILY INCOME PER MACHINE: $204 first year; $259 fifth year.

NUMBER OF TABLE GAMES: 98.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER TABLE: $1,485 first year; $1,830 fifth year.

HOTEL: 300 rooms.

AMENITIES: Several restaurants, spa, convention and events center, 18-hole Tom Watson golf course.

ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES: Equivalent of 1,850 full-time workers.

PLANNED OPENING DATE: February 2011.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

LOCATION: On Kansas Speedway premises.

THEME: Rock and roll.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: $680.6 million plus about $30 million for a temporary facility.

NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES: 3,000.

AVERAGE DAILY INCOME PER MACHINE: $255 first year; $281 fifth year.

NUMBER OF TABLE GAMES: 100.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER TABLE: $1,025 first year; $1,131 fifth year.

HOTEL: 300 rooms.

AMENITIES: Several restaurants; convention facility; open-air retail-entertainment district; nightclubs, spa, fitness and pool areas.

ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES: 2,500.

PLANNED OPENING DATE: March 2009 for temporary facility; July 2010 for casino.

Legends Sun

LOCATION: Near I-70 and I-435 interchanges near Kansas Speedway.

THEME: Contemporary.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: $767 million.

NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES: 2,000.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER MACHINE: $315 first year; $365 fifth year.

NUMBER OF TABLE GAMES: 60.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER TABLE: $1,675 first year; $1,940 fifth year.

HOTEL: 350 rooms.

AMENITIES: Several restaurants, nightclubs and live entertainment; convention center; spa and fitness center; retail outlets; residential space and 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course.

ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES: 2,250.

PLANNED OPENING DATE: October 2010.

Pinnacle Casino Kansas City

LOCATION: Corner of I-435 and Parallel Parkway near the Kansas Speedway.

THEME: Contemporary with focus on water elements.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: $623.6 million.

NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES: 2,300.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER MACHINE: $370 in second year.

NUMBER OF TABLE GAMES: 60 plus 25-table poker room.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER TABLE: $2,900 in second year.

HOTEL: 500 rooms.

AMENITIES: Several restaurants, nightclub and live entertainment, 10,000-square-foot convention center, 50,000-square-foot live event center.

ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES: 1,516.

PLANNED OPENING DATE: September 2010.

Sands Kansas

LOCATION: Edwardsville, southeast of I-70 and 110th Street near Kansas Speedway.

THEME: Contemporary.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: $772 million.

NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES: 5,000.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER MACHINE: $162.66 first year; $179.54 fifth year.

HOTEL: 300 rooms.

NUMBER OF TABLE GAMES: 200.

AVERAGE DAILY NET INCOME PER TABLE: $2,927.80 first year; $3,231.74 fifth year.

AMENITIES: Bars, restaurants and entertainment venues; convention center; retail outlets; 150-seat amphitheater.

ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES: 2,190.

PLANNED OPENING DATE: January 2011.

– The Associated Press