Gambling opponents have spread fears about Century II being turned into a casino. But that was never going to happen, as the Wichita City Council didn’t support the plan. So it was good last week that the Canadian developer who proposed the idea announced that he was officially dropping it.
Voters still won’t know where a casino might go if expanded gambling is approved Aug. 7. But they can stop worrying about it taking over Century II.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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30 Comments
“Stop worrying about a casino in Century II” and start worrying about a casino somewhere in Sedgwick County … should have been the EAGLE’s blog headline.
According to comment by Dick Coe at the Rotary Club meeting yesterday, “it would take $100,000 in casino gambling losses for the City of Wichita to receive $1,000 in new tax revenues.”
You can bet a major portion of this $100,000 would be immediately rushed out of Wichita on a fast midnight train to New York or Las Vegas to the casino managers office. And the money would come out of Wichita family’s pockets … money that should have been used for rent, food, school expenses and maybe Christmas presents. In most cases, these losses won’t rise to the level for problem gamblers’ assistance but will be real excruciating to gamblers families non the less.
Please join those of us who will be voting NO, NO possibly as soon as today at the historic Courthouse election office.
Just like the millions that leave the Wal-Mart cashiers to Wal-Mart corporate out-of-state.
Here is the problem with that. Coe isn’t telling the whole story.
For that $1000, the County gets $1000 also and the State gets more than $20,000 of that $100,000.
Let’s look at a 400 room hotel/casino in Wichita. Let’s say occupancy rate is 80% (normal). Transient Tax Rate 6%. Average room rate, let’s say $150. That’s $3400 a night for Wichita. About $1.2 million a year for the City.
Without that Casino/Hotel, the city gets nothing.
This is much more revenue potential for the city than just the gambling cut. Think about it.
So, Joe if we lose $100,000 out of Wichita less the $1,000 we get to keep and the State gets $20,000 this is a good deal? And regarding the Transient Guest tax, you assumption is true if the Casino draws people from out of the area that would not normally come. Where will they come from? Oklahoma, no they have casinos, Topeka and Kansas City area, no they have them also. The most we can hope for is a small area surrounding Wichita where it is not closer to go someplace else. That leaves Sedgwick county. So, are they planning a Hotel and Casino? I bet not, just a casino so we can lose $100,000 to benefit State tax coffers $20,000.
Ask yourself this dwd! For every $100,000 that Wal-Mart makes, what does the City get for that?
Here’s a dirty little secret dwd! We are already losing that $100,000. It’s going to Oklahoma Casinos.
I don’t think there is a Gambling Commission in Kansas, at least not like there is in Nevada.
I can well imagine there will be some “legal” *book cooking* going on.
If the Casino is allowed, Wichita, Sedgwick County or Kansas will never receive their fair share.
So it’s better to put it in Sumner right Kansas?
Joe Williams, more revenue for the government is not a good thing! Gevernment, inherently, is bad for us and must be kept to as small size as possible.
That’s why this casino law is bad for Kansas. It is too large an expansion of the state.
If we want a good gambling experience that might have a chance of drawing tourists, not to mention locals, eliminate the state gaming taxes. Let the casino operate and pay regular corporate income taxes like any other business in Kansas.
Let there be more than one casino, so that there is not a government-backed monopoly for the gambler’s dollar in this area.
By the way, the studies, if anyone cares to do some arithmetic, forecast that 97% of the revenue of the casino would come from people living within 50 miles of the casino. Who will stay in the hotel, then?
“Please join those of us who will be voting NO, NO possibly as soon as today at the historic Courthouse election office.”
Actually, advance voting starts tomorrow.
http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/index.html
I’d like to see the eagle do a short - but front page - article explaining the questions on the ballot. If I am correct #1 is casino and #2 dog track. The wording on the questions is not all that great.
Ruffin Jr. was on Ch 12 last night at the dog track. What he describes there looks a lot like a casino - night club, restaurant, lots of slots. Only thing missing seems to be table games. From what I have seen in recent years the main focus in a casino is also slots.
You know the Kaw Casino advertises that they have 1200 machines. That’s a lot for one location. Anyone checked on how they are doing financially or is that hidden since it’s on Federal BIA land?
Isn’t the track slated to have 800 or so? And another 600 the Lottery could add?
What will the picture look like if the track wins and the casino loses?
If they are only allowing Sedgwick County to have 800 slots. And the Dogtrack will receive at least half of them, then the Casino will only have about 400 slots.
If Kaw has 1200. That’s a big difference in the number of slots. So basically this $225+ million casino/hotel/retail/entertainment complex, the casino part won’t be all that big.
You are correct, Ben. I did some arithmetic on some recent figures from the Kansas City casinos, and about 87% of the revenue is from machines instead of table games.
Which is too bad, as table games like blackjack and craps offer the gamble the best chance to play without facing overwhelming odds.
Did you know that on the craps table you can make bets that pay “true” odds? That is, the casino (and the government, by extension) has no built-in house advantage?
In my research, I have found statements that craps and roulette are illegal in Oklahoma, but a recent Dallas Morning-News story told about playing craps in Oklahoma. At any rate, the smaller casinos don’t have craps, so gamblers are left with the slots and their long grind.
Wait. I just remembered that Joe Williams is in favor of more intrusive government.
Joe! I think you are wrong on that. The 800 is the number at the track - the casino would be an additional allotment.
Of course, this question is the sort that I’d like to see addressed in an article explaining the questions on the ballot. Not for or against; simply clarification.
I ‘think’ that Yes-Yes would lead to 800 at the track and probably over a thousand at a casino. However, I am not sure. Thus the need for clarification.
I went back and checked Ben! You’re right! The 800 slots are for the tracks.
http://kansas.com/news/casinos/story/125864.html
I thought the allocation process was for all casinos and tracks, but it’s just tracks.
I would have to look into the legislation to see how much the Lottery is allocating for the casinos. I don’t know that number right not. I’ll check this evening when I get home from work.
But I did find one fascinating thing about slots! The Tracks and I’m also assuming the Casinos will have to pay $2,500 per slot machine installed. That’s a good chunk of change for the state.
More money for the state!
That’s not a good thing!
The way I understand the distribution of Slot machines and please correct me if I’m wrong…
Racinos are only entitled to slots and chance machines.
Casinos are allowed all card games, wheels, roulettes, Keno and slot machines.
Is that assumption correct or ?
“The remaining 600 slots will be assigned by lottery director Ed Van Petten once the management contracts become binding.”
kansas - i think you are correct. Thus my comments above ‘ALMOST a casino’. If the vote were to split might the state allocate the additional 600 to Greyhound for a total of 1400? That would make is as big (at least in slots) as a casino.
After checking it out. The bill shows no limits to electronic (slots) for the casinos themselves.
The racetracks, however they did cap the number to 2800 electronic games for the entire state, but currently they have it capped at 2200, each racetrack shall receive at least 600. Kind of confusing between the 2800 and the 2200.
Exact bill words: “The total number of electronic gaming machines allocated to andplaced at all racetrack gaming facilities in the state shall not exceed 2,800. Until lottery gaming facility management contracts for lottery gaming facilities in all gaming zones become binding, the total number of electronic gaming machines placed at all racetrack gaming facilities shall not exceed 2,200.”
But to qualify as a racetrack, they said you must have at least 100 live races a year, and that within a 60 day period that 10 live races be done.
So I guess these tracks can’t just be a slot house, but still will have to do races or they will disqualify themselves for the slots.
roulette has the worst odds for the player.that said, i don’t think i’ve read thoughts from so many experts in nothingness.everyone knows the truth about everything. it must be nice to have a mensa level iq.evreyone here is so bright. where do we find anyone to do regular jobs. (actually that’s an easy one)
VOTE YES for a casino
VOTE NO for slots at the dog track.
adopt a retired greyhound.
Flash: I just heard the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted against supporting a casino in Sedgwick County. Very wise decision Wichita business people.
Anyone who has taken a basic college course in economics knows that gambling casinos and sports arenas without regular tenants TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE COMMUNITY IN LARGE SUITCASES NIGHTLY ON A FAST MOVING STREAMLINER DIRECTLY TO LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK OR WHEREVER.
Not just ‘not to support’ JWink:
“Chamber directors vote to oppose casino gambling
Following a lengthy meeting this afternoon, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted to oppose casino gambling in Sedgwick County.
Chamber officials declined to disclose the vote tally, saying it was not a unanimous decision but that there was a “clear majority.”
Read more on this story in Thursday’s Eagle and at Kansas.com.
http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/131445.html
Mrage! Didn’t you confidently predict that the Chamber would endorse it?
Joe! I doubt that Ruffin would have any difficulty maintaining that requirement.
Reminds me of the rule that a ‘restaurant’ must derive some fraction of its revenues from food.
Ben: I was told of the Chamber’s decision about gambling by a friend a little before the official announcement was made so I didn’t have the official wording.
This is going to put a new slant on this issue … perhaps even some heads might roll among those like Ed Wolverton who have jumped the gun on supporting this issue.
I did vote about 9 AM this morning … NO and NO … on gambling at Sedgwick County Election Commissioner’s office in the Historic County Courthouse.
My objection is what I have stated previously … a lot of old people and poor people will be visiting those casinos losing their savings in hopes of alleviating their precarious poverty level situations.
I often tell the story of an impoverished single mother with two raggedy children approaching an oily slot machine operator with her last $100. Even though desperate to win, according to all statistics, she loses her last food and rent money.
Reminds me of the sad old “Little Match Girl” story.
Now would this woman and many like her qualify for assistance under the Governor’s pathological gambler program? I doubt it. And neither would many other similar gamblers … struggling young fathers, an old lady trying to help her invalid husband, a sickly mother/daughter pair who can’t even take care of each other.
Would the government’s pathological gambler help any of them? I doubt it.
Interestingly my own father helped me pull the handle on a slot machine in an old chicken/fish restaurant extending out into the Missouri River in Rulo, Nebraska back in the early days of WWII. I recall the wheels rolling and lining up of the cherries for a small avalanche of nickels. Thankfully, this didn’t make a gambler out of me.
Wichita can do better, a lot better, if it shucks off these barrages of easy come, easy go temptations to easy riches and finally gets down to the serious business of planning a wonderful family-oriented future.
BUT DOWNTOWN GET RICH QUICK ARENAS AND CASINOS AIN’T GOING TO DO IT.
Did anyone see the KWCH news tonight and how tight this casino race has gotten in polls?Color me surprised.
Actually 37% of the Chambers members voted to have the Chamber remain neutral on the issue! But that was ignored!
Look! If you are taking the Chamber’s advice on the Casino, you do know they endorsed the Downtown Arena.
FLASH: KAKE News poll!
Question: If the election was today, how would you vote on the Casino Questions?
Yes to Casino and Slot Machines - 61.3%No to Casino and Slot Machines - 34.9%Yes to one, no to the other - 3.8%
Still Strong!
Interesting difference between the KAKE and KWCH polls. I typically watch 12 so haven’t seen any info on the 10 poll (methodology, dates, etc). Interesting thing with the KWCH poll is that they have tracked over time. The trends are very interesting; last numbers I saw were 55-45 in favor.
I am sticking with my previously published prediction.
On Aug. 1, 2007 Jim Schuster, CEO of Hawker Beechcraft Corp., sent an email to all employees urging them to vote no against bringing a casino and slot machines to Wichita and Sedgwick County. Mr. Schuster says in his letter that “preserving our community’s values and character is critically important to the long term success of Hawker Beechcraft.” I wonder what happened to Mr. Schuster’s values and character when he stood on the tailgate of a truck and announced that all 400 of the wire-harness jobs were going to stay here in Wichita because of the hard work and dedication of the employees in that department, yet a year later nearly all 400 of those jobs were shipped south of the border to Mexico. For him to now appear concerned about this community is a slap in the face to every one of those people. Expanded gambling in Wichita is a huge issue and each of us should become educated about it. All I would say is be very careful who you listen to. I can assure you that there are others just like Jim Schuster that care more about the almighty dollar than the workers that create that dollar.