Casino Plans Scaled Back

Commissioners of the Wyandotte County and Kansas City Unified Government are considering this week whether to endorse two casino plans that are smaller and less expensive than earlier proposals that were withdrawn by their sponsors.

Both proposals to operate a state-owned casino would provide the Kansas county with about $14 million a year in property tax, sales tax, and gaming revenues, with the state expecting to receive $44.3 million a year. The earlier plans would have generated about $31 million a year for the combined city-county government.

The Kansas Lottery Commission will meet next week to consider contracts for each proposal.

Kansas Entertainment LLC in April withdrew its plan for a $705 million complex. The company has resubmitted an application for a $387 million casino with 2,300 slot machines and several restaurants, but lacking the 300-room hotel envisioned in the original application.

Penn Hollywood Kansas LLC, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa., wants a license for its $320 million complex that would include a casino with 1,500 slot machines, restaurants, and a 250-room hotel.

The casinos would be owned by the state but operated by the developers under a law passed in 2007 that stipulates the state will receive at least 22% of net casino annual revenue, with local governments getting 3%.

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