Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2008

Olathe firm lands casino development, operation

An Olathe firm was selected Friday to develop and operate the state-owned casino in Dodge City, according to a statement from the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

The board, at a meeting in Topeka voted 5 to 2 to grant Butler National Corp a 15-year contract to build and manage the casino in the state’s southwest gaming zone.

Dodge City Resort and Gaming Co. LLC was the only other bidder for the contract.

In a statement from Butler National, the company said the Boot Hill Casino and Resort will “recreate the world-famous 1870-1880s experience at the historic Boot Hill destination in Doge City.”

Plans for the nearly $88 million project include 800 slot machines, 20 table games, a 124-room hotel that includes a spa, olympic-sized swimming pool, restaurants and a 500-seat conference center and entertainment venue.

“We have felt from day one we had the best concept, best design and best business plan for tourism, gaming and economic development for a destination casino in Western Kansas,” Clark Stewart, Butler National’s president and chief executive, said in the statement.

Butler National entered the casino business in 1998 when it built The Stables, a tribal casino it co-owns with two tribes in Miami, Okla.

The Boot Hill Casino and Resort’s $45 million first phase is scheduled to open in September 2009. The $42.5 million second phase is planned 38 months from the final approval of the contract. That will occur a background check can be completed on Butler National by the Racing and Gaming Commission, which is required to do so in 70 days.

The Racing and Gaming Commission statement said the casino is expected to generate $70 million in gaming revenue in the first year of operation.

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