Harrah's Pulls Out Of Sumner, Kansas Casino Project

For the second time this year, the state of Kansas will have to go back to the drawing board to find a suitor for a casino in the state. Harrah's Entertainment and the Topeka development firm they have partnered with have pulled out of their agreement to bring a casino to Sumner County.

Sumner Gaming now joins Penn National as groups that accepted a deal to run state owned casinos in Kansas and pulled out. Penn National pulled out because they did not feel they had the ability to compete with a neighboring casino.

Harrah's, on the other hand, is pulling out because the economy has gotten so bad that there is little chance of success. The company alerted the Kansas Lottery of its decision Monday afternoon in a letter.

"We truly regret that we must withdraw our gaming application as a result of circumstances beyond our control that do not permit us to meet the proposed schedule for the project. In the event the financial climate improves, we may be interested in reapplying for a gaming license should the process in the South Central zone be reopened for bids," wrote Jeffrey Ungerer, of Sumner Gaming Joint Venture.

Whether or not the opportunity will still be available will be up to other bidders. The Kansas Lottery is expected to reopen bids for the Sumner casino, and they feel that a developer will still take a chance on the area.

"While this is a challenging time for the gaming industry as a whole, we believe a gaming facility in Sumner County will eventually become a reality," said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten.

November 18, 2008
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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