Ground soon will be broken at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane for a 10,000 square foot meeting and convention space and an equestrian center. Targeted for completion in January 2015, they’re just the most recent projects in the casino’s ongoing expansion.
General Manager Scott Cooper said, “It’s going to be another busy year. We’ll have to balance operating the facility and adding to the facility.”
Cooper said the meeting and convention center will include conference and board rooms, kitchens and receiving docks. The equestrian center will feature 200 permanent stalls that could expand to 800. In addition, Cooper said the number of rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites at the casino will double to 300 by mid-summer.
This past January marked the first full year the Kansas Star operated in its permanent casino. Compared to January 2013, revenue was down $1.9 million to $14.45 million, according figures from the Kansas Lottery. “It’s obviously leveled off, but in January a year ago we were in the first month in the new building, and this year’s January was more weather-impacted than last year,” Cooper said.
Since opening in December 2011, the Kansas Star Casino has generated $396.4 million, outperforming the other two state-owned casinos. Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, which opened a month and a half after the Kansas Star, generated $255.6 million. The Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City has earned $170.6 million since it opened in December 2009.
Sumner and Sedgwick counties and the city of Mulvane each have received nearly $4 million in gaming revenue since the casino opened. The state of Kansas has received $87.5 million, and $7.9 million has gone to a state fund for problem gambling and other addictions.
