In the News

CASINO GROUP ADDS PLAN FOR WELLINGTON

by DEB GRUVER
The Wichita Eagle
December 28, 2007

One of the gambling groups that proposed a Mulvane casino has amended its plan to include an option for Wellington.

The move by MGM Mirage-Foxwoods Development Co.-Chisholm Creek Ventures came shortly before proposals for Sumner County casinos are due to the Kansas Lottery. The deadline is 5 p.m. today.

The MGM group had proposed a $425 million casino in Mulvane. But Sumner County commissioners endorsed two proposals for gambling resorts in Wellington instead.

Lottery executive director Ed Van Petten and Wichita lawyer Steve Joseph, who represents the developers, confirmed the supplemental filing Thursday.

The MGM group's Wellington site is 170 acres at the northwest corner of the Kansas Turnpike exit, Joseph said. The group has drawn up site plans for that location, he added.

He said he did not know what the groups' investment in Wellington would be. He referred questions to Gary Armentrout, managing director of Foxwoods Development, who could not be reached Thursday.

Bob Knight, who represents Chisholm Creek Ventures, would not go into details or say whether the group was leaning toward Wellington.

"We're working diligently," he said Thursday. "That's all I can say."

In its original proposal, the MGM group offered a consultant's analysis that estimated gaming revenue at $190 million near Mulvane with 2.7 million visits, compared to $168 million and 2.3 million visits at Wellington.

But Sumner County commissioners have made clear they prefer a Wellington casino site, citing overwhelming public support for Wellington and broader economic impact from a central location.

They have endorsed two proposals to operate a casino in Wellington: Penn National Gaming plans a $365 million initial investment. Marvel Gaming-Binion Family Trust filed its application with the Lottery for a $390 million complex Thursday.

Penn, MGM and Harrah's had already filed their applications with the state.

Commissioners did not endorse Mulvane proposals from the MGM group and from Harrah's Entertainment-Sumner Gaming, which proposed a $500 million initial investment.

Van Petten has said that casino groups could continue the application process without a local endorsement, but that they must get such an endorsem ent before a contract for a casino could be signed.

Jacqueline Peterson, senior corporate manager for strategic communications at Harrah's, said that group had no statement on its plans.

Harrah's had not filed any amendments to its plan for a Mulvane location by the end of Thursday, said lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford.

Reach Deb Gruver at 316-268-6400 or dgruver@wichitaeagle.com.