Even though the casino and casino resort industry has been hit hard but the economic recession that has been blanketing the United States over the past two years, some casino resort companies are still wanting to expand. Harrah’s Entertainment, which already owns a large section of the famed Las Vegas strip and some of the biggest names in Las Vegas like Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas and, of course, Harrah’s Las Vegas, wants to restart plans for a regional casino in Kansas. Last week Harrah’s Entertainment released that it had submitted a new proposal for a state owned casino in the south central part of the state.
The proposal to develop and operate the Kansas casino is on a much smaller scale than the original proposal that came out before the economic nose five of 2008. The first plan was for a resort that would have included a casino, 175 hotel rooms and an 18 hole golf course at a cost of close to $535 million. In the current economy that isn’t as attractive. The new plan, which Harrah’s Entertainment is making with the same partner, Summer Resorts, is for a 100 room hotel, and includes several restaurants, a sports bar, retail shopping and almost 15,000 square feet of convention and meeting space.
Even though Harrah’s Entertainment has pulled back on some of its plans for the Kansas casino resort, they are leaving room for the resort to expand. Expansion plans could include, the golf course that was part of the original plan, more hotel rooms, a tennis facility, an RV park and a water amusement park.
Of course, Harrah’s Entertainment isn’t the only company looking to develop a casino resort on the Kansas location. Other interested companies have until July 29 to submit plans and proposals. Harrah’s Entertainment and the other interested companies will be able to give presentations on their proposals in August.
