Butler National Service
Corp. gets bid to manage property in the southwest gaming zone
located in Dodge City
Butler as
operator of final casino resort The fourth and final contract to manage a state
owned and operated gaming facility in Kansas
was awarded to Butler National Service Corp.
The
Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board named Butler National as developer
and manager of the southwest gaming zone located in Dodge City. Kansas Entertainment LLC in the
northeast, Harrah’s in the south-central (Sumner
County) and Penn National Gaming in
the southeast (Cherokee
County) were the other
companies awarded 15-year contracts. Penn National Gaming has since pulled out of the deal.
The new
Boot Hill Casino and Resort will be designed to enhance and recreate the world
famous 1870-1880s experience at the historic Boot Hill destination in Dodge
City.
State
estimates of casino revenue in the Dodge
City destination market range from $40 million to $60
million per year. Phase I of the development will require an investment of
approximately $45 million and will open in September 2009.
Phase II of the development is planned to be complete in
38 months from the final approval of the contract and will cost an additional
$42.5 million for a total of approximately $87.5 million. Projected cost of the
development ranges from $9.4 million in the first full year of operation to
$21.7 million in year five.
“We are extremely pleased with the decision of
the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board,” said Clark Stewart, president
and CEO of Butler National. “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.
We believed our management proposal offered the strongest tourist drawing
destination facility in the best interest of all Kansans. The Review Board
agreed.”
The last step in this process is the background
checks by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Background checks and
finalizing the contract should be completed by Dec. 5 of this year.
Fourth contract awarded in Kansas
October 31, 2008
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