Gambling regulators in the state of Kansas have given final approval to the Kansas Crossing Casino proposal, giving the go ahead for construction to begin in southeast Kansas. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission Executive Director, Don Brownlee, stated that the commission had approved the Kansas Crossing Hotel & Casino contract during a meeting yesterday. The commission will be regulating the casino which was approved by a vote of 3 to 0, with commission member David Moses abstaining from voting.

The Kansas Crossing proposal has a $70 million price tag and was the least expensive of the three different proposals submitted to the commission. This casino will be built near Pittsburg and will have a casino and hotel with 120 guest rooms. The facility is expected to open sometime in the summer of 2016.

Lead investor and the developer of the Kansas Crossing project, Bruce Christenson, stated that they are grateful for approval and work should begin immediately on the construction of the casino facility. The casino is the last of four non-tribal casinos that are allowed to be constructed based on a 2007 Kansas law. Dodge City, Wichita and Kansas City already have casinos.

The Kansas Lottery is the owner of the casinos, and the state will receive a minimum of 22% of the revenues from gambling. Back in June, a casino review board voted 5-2 to award the Kansas Crossing proposal – denying applications by Castle Rock Casino Resort and bid by Las Vegas casino billionaire Phil Ruffin. Supporters of Castle Rock wanted to see the commission reject the Kansas Crossing project which would have started the selection process again. However, commission members did not see a reason why the recommendation should be overturned.