OFFICIAL: Proposed KCK Casino

[KCK]

Vote set for June 26 in UG. Two questions: Should KCK allow a destination casino? Should KCK allow slots at the Woodlands?

Does no one but me remember the fact that KCK has had a gambling vote before in the past? It was approved with something like 80% of the vote. Of course since gambling in Kansas was still illgeal back then, the vote was meaningless, but that alone is a good indicator that this will pass easily. I am voting for both, so is all of my family who live here in KCK.

[Mr. Fantasy]

I will vote for both as well.

[justin8216]

Mayors is Wyandotte County are vowing to share the 1.5 percent of casino revenues earmarked for the city where it is located. This should negate any fighting over which city would host the new casino.

This is a model of what some of the Cities in MO should have done.

I think the best way to achieve this would be to divide the revenue based on population of the 3 cities, much the way county money for the CIFI (countywide initiative for funding infrastructure) is divided.

I don't think Kansas City, KS should share the city percent from the Woodlands slots, because the city of KCK bore all the costs of landing the Woodlands.

[DaveKCMO]

WyCo cities mull casino revenue sharing

The three cities in Wyandotte County will consider a revenue-sharing agreement Monday night that would give all three cities a direct financial benefit from a possible destination casino.

The agreement, which the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., will consider at a 5:15 p.m. special session and which the Bonner Springs and Edwardsville city councils will consider at their regular 7:30 p.m. meetings, would allot the host city a set percentage of gaming revenue and split the rest between the other two cities.


Under a Kansas bill passed in March that allows for destination casinos in four Kansas counties including Wyandotte County, the host county and host city each receive 1.5 percent of casino revenues.

The revenue-sharing agreement, though, would give the host city 0.75 percent of casino revenues and split the remaining 0.75 percent between the other two according to population.

Related gaming facility criteria legislation would require a casino operator to spend at least $300 million -- upping the ante on the $225 million required by the state law -- on the gaming facility, concert/convention center, hotel, retail and public transportation to other community destinations.

A casino hinges on a county vote June 26 to consider the destination casino and the addition of at least 600 slot machines at The Woodlands race track.

[GRID]

They better plan on spending 600 million or more.  Otherwise the KCK casino will be nowhere close to a "destination" facility in this market.

Ameristar was a 320 million dollar casino when it opened and that been at least ten years.  After their espansions etc, it would cost 600-700 million to duplicate it today.  Same with Harrahs, that hotel project alone was like a 200 million dollar addition.

All I'm saying is that I would like to see a nice casino built.  A true high quality casino.  Something that could compare to Ameristar in KC or St Louis, otherwise, the draw will not be there outside of being in Kansas and Kansans staying in Kansas to gamble.  Small casinos with few amenities are boring and lame.  Those KS indian casinos are a total joke.

If the casino complex is only going to cost 250 million.  I'm not going to expect much.

[justin8216]

They are estimating gaming revenues of 200 million /year for a Wyandotte county casino. 3 percent or 6 million dollars will go to local governments.

The county portion of the UG's budget is guaranteed half estimated to be 3 million dollars.

The host city is proposed to receive an est 1.5 million with the other two Wyco cities splitting the other 1.5 million.

No matter which city gets the casino the KCK city budget is guaranteed 1.4 to 1.5 million in annual gaming revenue.

I propose that the 1.4 to 1.5 million to the KCK city budget be used exclusively for a dollar for dollar reduction to the the revenue from the city's property tax mill levy, to get the mill levy more competitive with Shawnee or Olathe's property tax mill levy.

The county's mill levy is already competitive so I would suggest using the county's 3 million as funding for the CIFI (countywide initiative for funding infrastructure) The money in the program is distributed between the three cities based on population and would allow the entire county to benefit directly from the county's share of casino revenue.

Anyone know how this compares with annual gaming revenue rec by the cities of Riverside, NKC, and KCMO?

[DaveKCMO]

They are estimating gaming revenues of 200 million /year for a Wyandotte county casino. 3 percent or 6 million dollars will go to local governments.

The county portion of the UG's budget is guaranteed half estimated to be 3 million dollars.

The host city is proposed to receive an est 1.5 million with the other two Wyco cities splitting the other 1.5 million.

No matter which city gets the casino the KCK city budget is guaranteed 1.4 to 1.5 million in annual gaming revenue.

I propose that the 1.4 to 1.5 million to the KCK city budget be used exclusively for a dollar for dollar reduction to the the revenue from the city's property tax mill levy, to get the mill levy more competitive with Shawnee or Olathe's property tax mill levy.

The county's mill levy is already competitive so I would suggest using the county's 3 million as funding for the CIFI (countywide initiative for funding infrastructure) The money in the program is distributed between the three cities based on population and would allow the entire county to benefit directly from the county's share of casino revenue.

Anyone know how this compares with annual gaming revenue rec by the cities of Riverside, NKC, and KCMO?

the timing of the "we can't fund out buses!" article couldn't be better! hmm...

[kcdcchef]

They are estimating gaming revenues of 200 million /year for a Wyandotte county casino. 3 percent or 6 million dollars will go to local governments.

that should help offset the billions they give away in tax breaks every year to developers building strip malls and big box retail in cornfields.

[Maitre D]

that should help offset the billions they give away in tax breaks every year to developers building strip malls and big box retail in cornfields.

better than tax handouts, like Taxson does for developments in brownfields.

[trailerkid]

They better plan on spending 600 million or more.  Otherwise the KCK casino will be nowhere close to a "destination" facility in this market.

Ameristar was a 320 million dollar casino when it opened and that been at least ten years.  After their espansions etc, it would cost 600-700 million to duplicate it today.  Same with Harrahs, that hotel project alone was like a 200 million dollar addition.

All I'm saying is that I would like to see a nice casino built.  A true high quality casino.  Something that could compare to Ameristar in KC or St Louis, otherwise, the draw will not be there outside of being in Kansas and Kansans staying in Kansas to gamble.  Small casinos with few amenities are boring and lame.  Those KS indian casinos are a total joke.

If the casino complex is only going to cost 250 million.  I'm not going to expect much.

Based on geography alone, I would expect the WyCo casino to be a winner. A significant facility like Ameristar would definitely raise the bar in the market, but I don't see that as being necessary for survival. Argosy was probably (re)built for $300 M and it's a nice facility that is gaining market share.

If I was WyCo, I would turn The Woodlands into a destination casino/resort. If significant investment was made to enhance that property, the metro could have something to be proud of. Horse racing has a nostalgic and nationalist quality about it that could be regenerated today. Maybe turn The Woodlands into a premiere racing venue done in classical American decor. The complex could hold a four star resort, boxing arena complex, as well as a traditional casino floor. Run a nice, little street car or bus between Village West, The Woodlands, and Downtown KCK.

[eliphar17]

that should help offset the billions they give away in tax breaks every year to developers building strip malls and big box retail in cornfields.

better than tax handouts, like Taxson does for developments in brownfields.

What? Chef and Maitre'D are broken records?

If you are referring to VW, Chef, surely you remember that that was mostly STAR bonds which come from the state of Kansas. WyCo is flooded with the property tax from all that new development.

[justin8216]

They better plan on spending 600 million or more.  Otherwise the KCK casino will be nowhere close to a "destination" facility in this market.

Ameristar was a 320 million dollar casino when it opened and that been at least ten years.  After their espansions etc, it would cost 600-700 million to duplicate it today.  Same with Harrahs, that hotel project alone was like a 200 million dollar addition.

All I'm saying is that I would like to see a nice casino built.  A true high quality casino.  Something that could compare to Ameristar in KC or St Louis, otherwise, the draw will not be there outside of being in Kansas and Kansans staying in Kansas to gamble.  Small casinos with few amenities are boring and lame.  Those KS indian casinos are a total joke.

If the casino complex is only going to cost 250 million.  I'm not going to expect much.

The lack of loss limits such as those in MO will give a KS casino a significant advantage to build upon. I would expect the Isle fo Capri to be closing in a few years as it is the most lame of the MO casinos and the new Wyco Casino to take its place as the second highest grossing casino in the Metro after the Ameristar.

[justin8216]

I just read that in addition to an est 7 million dollars in gaming revenue for local goverments the UG is expecting 8 million dollars worth of annual property tax to be collected from a destination resort casino.

I assume the 8 million figure is split amongst all local taxing juristictions, such as school district, community college, city, and county. I would hope that whatever portion of that going into the UG budget is used soley to fund a reduction of the property tax mill levy.

[Pork Chop]

I imagine most people expected the vote to pass, but it's nice to see that it's official:

Wyandotte County voters did their part Tuesday to help Kansas usher in a new era in economic development by overwhelmingly approving two measures that legalize casino gambling.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/166912.html

[KC0KEK]

WyCo is flooded with the property tax from all that new development.

Are WyCo homeowners starting to see a decrease in their property taxes as a result?

[moderne]

How about  putting the casino complex at the Indian Springs site?  This part of town could use the shot in the arm, there is easy freeway access, and it is still much closer to JOCO than any of the MO boats.

[GRID]

Anybody know if KS will require those cards that the MO casinos use?  Even without loss limits, I think MO would still require people to have those cards which is another inconvenience and potential advantage for a wyco casino if you can simply walk onto the casino floor and gamble.  I realize those cards can be beneficial as well so the casinos can keep track of their customers and send out freebies, but to somebody like me who actually sets foot on a casino floor once or twice a year in one or two casinos, it seems like everytime I go, I have to get another card.

[DaveKCMO]

Anybody know if KS will require those cards that the MO casinos use?  Even without loss limits, I think MO would still require people to have those cards which is another inconvenience and potential advantage for a wyco casino if you can simply walk onto the casino floor and gamble.  I realize those cards can be beneficial as well so the casinos can keep track of their customers and send out freebies, but to somebody like me who actually sets foot on a casino floor once or twice a year in one or two casinos, it seems like everytime I go, I have to get another card.

i thought the MO casinos were very close to getting rid of the loss limits and players cards?

[KCMax]

The loss limit bill was defeated.

[WyCo]

How about  putting the casino complex at the Indian Springs site?  This part of town could use the shot in the arm, there is easy freeway access, and it is still much closer to JOCO than any of the MO boats.

To me the only place that makes sense is the land the Sac and Fox Tribe already have set aside.  Close to the Speedway, it would make the area even more of a tourist attraction.