If all goes as currently scheduled, a review panel for the Kansas Lottery Gaming Review Board is expected to announce their choice among three competitors for a SE Kansas Casino license on June 23rd..

At a June 10 meeting of the review board a state-hired consultant questioned the feasibility of the project and indicated he didn’t find the group’s $76 million revenue projection valid, pointing out a Union Gaming Analytics suggestion the casino would only generate $47.8 million in gross revenue along with another study predicting $59.8 million.

On Monday the group filed a 110 page challenge to the state’s analysis. The point by point rebuttal cites five independent studies that arrive at a conclusion that of the three proposals, Castle Rock would generate the most revue annually.

The group was only given three business days to form their rebuttal after the previous meeting.

Partners of the casino project have reportedly pledged to personally make up the apparent $35 million of unsecured funding and plan to spend as much as $145 million to get the resort open.

All three of the groups vying for the southeast gaming zone license are intricately tied to businesses in Wichita. The groups and potential locations are: Castle Rock Casino Resort to be located near the Oklahoma border; Camptown Casino to be located at the former Camptown Greyhound Park in Frontenac, and Kansas Crossing Casino & Hotel to be located in Pittsburg.

Earlier, the board asked developers of the Camptown Casino to clarify their level of investment.

In Late April all three suitors were found to be qualified to proceed by the Kansas Lottery Commission.

 

In more potentially troubling news for the Castle Rock proposal, today the Topeka Capital-Journal’s online news site cjonline.com reports that on June 9th, Rodney Steven of the coalition heading up the Castle Rock Casino bid, inappropriately entered a business competitor’s office uninvited.

Steven said he was at the Emporia gym to speak with a former business partner, Brian Walburn about a non-compete agreement and Walburn turned out to not be present at the time.

Steven is an exercise-club entrepreneur and admits to entering the fitness center competitor’s office, in search of a pen to leave a note for Walburn. Security cameras recorded the incident.

“I didn’t break in,” Steven said. “I didn’t bust any drawers. I didn’t enter any locked doors.”

No charges were filed in the incident but the Gym’s owner reported what he considered improper entry into the office to police. The gym owner told cjonline.com that he had also been in contact with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

The Kansas Lottery review board will meet Tuesday to hear Castle Rock’s rebuttal to the consultants’ findings and are expected to issue a decision later the same day.