Golden Gaming resubmits application to build casino in Kansas

Golden Gaming resubmitted its application on Wednesday to build and manage a state-owned hotel-casino in north eastern Kansas.

The proposal would build the project in phases, something that was not allowed by Kansas officials during the initial round of bidding last year.

The project’s first phase would involve a $360 million investment to build a 90,000-square-foot casino with restaurants and an entertainment venue.

The $660 million master plan includes 2,500 slots, 98 table games, a 300-room hotel with a spa, restaurants, retail and convention space, a 60-lane bowling alley and an 18-hole Tom Watson golf course.

Golden Gaming’s proposed joint venture bid with Kansas Speedway and Baltimore-based The Cordish Co. bid last year was rejected by a vote of 4-3.

That partnership withdrew its plan after the economic downturn.

The Kansas Lottery reopened the bidding process and the Cordish partnership resubmitted a $700 million bid. Penn National also entered the picture with a $500 million bid.

A date of June 30 has been set for the Kansas Lottery to review the applications. The contracts will be forwarded to the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, which will have 60 days to recommend a proposal to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission for final approval.

Golden Gaming owns 35 taverns in Nevada under the PT’s pub chain plus casinos in Pahrump and Colorado.

The company is privately owned by former Station Casinos executive Blake Sartini. Sartini is a minority investor in Station Casinos with his wife, Delise, who is the sister for Station Casinos’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Fertitta III.