May 19, 2009--South Central Gaming Partners has offered to build a hotel in the first phase of its proposed "Prairie Sky Casino" for Mulvane's Turnpike exit.

The company presented its plan to add a 180-room hotel to its $225 million casino to the Sumner County Commission on Monday. It is seeking the commission's endorsement for the project.

The commission took the information under consideration, but did not act on it.

The developer said amenities for the hotel would include a pool and meeting rooms.

South Central Gaming Partners was the only one of three casino bidders that was not endorsed last week by the commission.

Commissioners said they endorsed proposals by the other two companies, Lakes Entertainment and Foxwoods Development, because they offered to try to build hotels in the initial stages of their casino developments.

Commissioners had questioned whether a casino could be a true "destination" as required by state law without a hotel.

Lakes has offered to build a $240 million casino either at the Mulvane exit or the Wellington exit. Foxwoods has proposed a $225 million casino for the Mulvane exit.

None of the companies offered to build a first-phase hotel in their original plans, but Lakes and Foxwoods told the commission after the plans were submitted that they would try to build hotels through third parties.

South Central Gaming Partners would build its project, including the hotel, entirely with cash, said Nancy Seitz, company spokeswoman.

Casino developers have until June 30 to get endorsements from local governments. A seven-member review board will make the final selection by Sept. 1.

South Central Gaming Partners also has proposed an alternate site for its casino, three miles east of the Turnpike on land recently annexed by the city of Mulvane. A casino plan for that site must be endorsed by the city.

Reach Fred Mann at 316-268-6310 or [email protected].

-----

To see more of The Wichita Eagle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansas.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. NASDAQ-NMS:LACO,