Officials from Pittsburg, Kansas told local media that they are not concerned about the upcoming court decision related to the state gambling facilities board’s announcement from earlier this year that the city has been chosen to host Kansas’ newest casino.
Back in June, the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facilities Review Board chose Kansas Crossing’s proposal for the construction of a $70-million casino just outside the city of Pittsburg, located in Crawford County. Apart from this one, the board had to review two more proposed projects – one for a $145-million casino complex in Cherokee County and one for an $84-million gambling venue in Frontenac, which, too, is located in Crawford County.
The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facilities Review Board said that the preferred candidate for the state casino license was chosen over the other two proposals due to the fact that its size was just the right one for Southeast Kansas.
Following the board’s decision, commissioners for the neighboring Cherokee County filed a lawsuit to the Shawnee County court in a bid to prevent the selected Kansas Crossing Casino from being established. Developers of the Cherokee County casino project also opposed the decision vocally and filed a separate lawsuit against it.
Construction work on the new casino has not commenced yet. Commenting on the pending ruling, Daron Hall, City Manager of Pittsburg, told media that the court decision is to be announced in January 2016. The official also pointed out that his city has never had a gambling venue of this kind before and they will not consider it a challenge, if they have to wait a little more for one.
Mr. Hall said that they are keen on having a full-scale gaming facility, but it is not something that will “make or break” Pittsburg. The official added that they are not concerned about the upcoming legal decision, just a bit anxious.
Of all three casino proposals, Kansas Crossing was the least expensive and smallest in scale. Apart from the casino itself, the property will also have a 120-room hotel and other amenities, such as dining and entertainment ones.
Developers of the proposed Castle Rock Casino Resort, the one which would have been located in Cherokee County, planned to build a $145-million venue with a spacious casino floor and a 200-room hotel.
