Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel is all set to open in Pittsburg, in spite of official opening scheduled after a week for the public. The new casino hotel is built on an expense of $80 million. To attract visitors, dealers were shown shuffling decks and stacked chips, and slot machines were made ready during a Thursday tour of the project. With the scheduled opening of the state-owned Kansas Crossing at 10:30 a.m. March 31, Southeast Kansas will have its first casino.
Doug Fisher, General Manager said during Thursday’s tour, “It’s been a whirlwind. I started in July (2016) and it was pretty much still dirt here, so the speed with which this was constructed and how well this was constructed and how well this was designed is amazing to me. We’re opening the doors in 10 days. I think we have a pretty good position. I’m not worried.”
If we go to the backdrop, originally the Kansas Crossing project was selected by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board in June 2015. It was approved by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on July 2, 2015. The other competitors in the race were Castle Rock in Cherokee County and one by Las Vegas billionaire Phil Ruffin. However, the proposed dollar value by Kansas Crossing was the least of three.
After Kansas Crossing won the project, the other competitor Castle Rock project filed a lawsuit on the allegation that the state had not followed proper protocols in making the selection. This made the delay to start the project by more than a year. The path became clear only after a ruling that came in in March 2016 and Kansas Crossing was announced plans to proceed.
A chronological Update of the Event
June 2015:
Kansas Crossing was selected for the proposal for a state-owned casino by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board. The other two competing the projects in the race were Castle Rock in Cherokee County and a plan for the former greyhound track near Frontenac shared by Phil Ruffin of Las Vegas.
July 2, 2015: The Kansas Crossing proposal was approved The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
Sept. 2, 2015: Plaintiffs of Castle Rock project alleged that the state had not followed the law in selecting the Kansas Crossing project. Hence, Kansas Crossing officials were forced to announce that the construction is put on hold on the basis of the lawsuit filed by supporters of competitors.
Nov. 29, 2015: Clint Patty, the attorney appointed by Kansas Crossing requested a second delay of the opening date as lawsuit continued.
March 31, 2016: A court ruling was issued. This enabled the Kansas Crossing officials to go forward with construction plan.
May 5, 2016: A ground-breaking ceremony for the $80 million project was held by Officials with Kansas Crossing, the state of Kansas and the city of Pittsburg.
July 2016: Doug Fisher announced as the casino’s general manager by Kansas Crossing.
Jan. 25, 2017: The Kansas Supreme Court heard arguments on an appeal made in March 2016 ruling in lawsuit. No ruling was passed by the Kansas Supreme Court.
March 8, 2017: Final announcements made by Kansas Crossing that an April 8 grand opening ceremony. However, casino doors will open a week prior on March 31 at 10:30 a.m.