Every resident of Cherokee County, Kansas—about 9,000 individuals–recently received a flier in the mail, stating, “Please tell Cherokee County commissioners that they are costing residents of Cherokee County much more than court costs and lawyers’ fees.”
Cherokee County and Castle Rock Casino filed lawsuits this summer against the Kansas Lottery, alleging the agency violated state law by awarding the $70 million Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel at Pittsburg in Crawford County the contract for a state-owned casino in the Southeast Gaming Zone. Castle Rock, in Cherokee County, had proposed a $145 million development.
Cherokee County commissioners and Castle Rock developers have asked a judge to toss out the Kansas Crossing contract and re-start the selection process. They claim Castle Rock would offer maximum revenue, encourage tourism and serve the best interest of Kansas—the three main requirements of Kansas’ fourth and last state-owned casino.
Construction on the $70 million Kansas Crossing was halted earlier this month after the Lottery Commission issued a 90-day extension of the project’s “commencement date” due to the lawsuits. Kansas Crossing spokeswoman Carrie Tedore said the fliers urge Cherokee County residents to tell commissioners the county is losing $970 a day in gambling revenue while construction is stopped. The lawsuits claim Cherokee County will lose at least $8.5 million in taxes and other economic benefits unless the court halts the Kansas Crossing project.
The Kansas Crossing proposal includes a casino with 625 slot machines and 16 gaming tables, plus a hotel, and attract an estimated 500,000 visitors a year. The lead investor is Houston businessman Bruce Christenson. Developers said the venue would provide $400,000 in revenue for Cherokee County, the same amount that would go to both Crawford County and the city of Pittsburg.
Castle Rock Casino Resort, with 1,400 slot machines, 35 table games and a 16-table poker room, was predicted to draw at least 1 million visitors a year. Brothers Rodney and Brandon Steven of Wichita are the major investors.
