Sumner County Commission endorses casino proposal for south-central Kansas

Sumner County endorses casino plan near Wellington

WELLINGTON, Kan. — An Oklahoma company’s proposal to develop a casino has won a key endorsement as the state makes its third try in two years to get a state-owned casino off the drawing boards in south-central Kansas.

The Sumner County Commission voted 3-0 on Tuesday to endorse only the $255 million plan by Global Gaming LLC to build a casino at the Wellington exit of the Kansas Turnpike. Global Gaming is based in Ada, Okla.

Two other developers — Harrah’s Kansas and Peninsula Gaming Partners — submitted proposals for casinos close to the turnpike’s Mulvane exit.

Harrah’s Kansas wants to build a $260 million casino and Peninsula Gaming Partners of Dubuque, Iowa, has proposed investing $300 million for its project’s first two phases.

Peninsula Gaming’s proposal has gotten the endorsement of the Mulvane City Council. Harrah’s Kansas also plans to seek a Mulvane endorsement.

KWCH-TV reports the Sumner County commissioners believe the Wellington location would be the best for Sumner County.

Commissioner Jim Newell says Mulvane has been growing on its own, and does not need the help like the rest of the county. Without a Wellington casino, the county will continue to die, he said.

The commissioners also contended the Wellington casino was the only one with proper infrastructure and utilities in place.

About 30 people spoke at the public session, with about half supporting the casino near Wellington. Seven others spoke in favor of the Mulvane site, and three asked commissioners to endorse all three proposals and let the state decide the best one.

A second attempt to build a casino in Sumner County failed last spring when Chisholm Creek Casino Resort withdrew its plans to build and manage a casino near Mulvane because of possible competition from a tribal casino in Park City, a Wichita suburb.

Information from: KWCH-TV