KCTV 5Newest Kansas casino opens, bringing in 15,000 people in first day

The doors at Hollywood Casino opened just before noon Friday and, by 10 p.m., 15,000 people had come in to try their luck at the $368 million casino at the Kansas Speedway.

"I've been to Vegas, the casinos around here, but I've got to tell you, this place is really a great place to come," said Mike Kilderry of Kansas City Kansas.

Kilderry lives just 5 minutes from the new casino, he's glad it's here, and says its just another example of success for the Legends.

"Kansas City Kansas and the Unified Government have turned this county around. I'm a lifelong resident of Wyandotte County, and I'm proud to say I'm from here.

Even in the wind, rain and cold, a steady line of people waited for their chance to see the area's newest toy.

"I was so excited and I came out here to see how beautiful- this is as close as I've ever been to a speedway. I wish there were some cars rolling around right now," said Charles Johnson of Grandview.

General Manager Bob Sheldon said Monday at a test run one of the biggest differences between his facility and those on the other side of the state line -- other than the 1930s art-deco theme and huge, high-tech video boards -- is that all of the restaurants are located inside the casino, rather than outside the gambling floor.

The casino project was finished ahead of schedule and under budget because of the mild weather, he said, adding that the second phase of the project, including a hotel and retail space, was still in the discussion stage.

Also unresolved is how to handle race days at the adjacent Kansas Speedway, because there's only one lounge area with a view of the track.

The casino is a joint venture of International Speedway Corp., which owns the speedway, and Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa., which also owns the Argosy casino in Kansas City, Mo. State approval of the project resulted in a second Sprint Cup NASCAR race at the Kansas City, Kan., track.

Sheldon said people won't be able to camp out in the lounge area, which overlooks Turn 2, to watch races, but they will be able to get a glimpse at them from there. Another possibility is renting the lounge out on race days, he said.

At Monday's test run, Bill McCarthy, 77, a Kansas City, Mo., resident who goes to local casinos with his wife two to three times a week, said Hollywood Casino has more of a Las Vegas feel than its counterparts in Missouri.

"It's nicer looking than any of the casinos in Kansas City, Mo.," he said.

McCarthy, a retired engineer, said he and his wife do most of their gambling at Ameristar Casino because of its wide-open layout and "that's where she can win." While his visit to Hollywood Casino hasn't persuaded him to abandon the Missouri gambling facilities, he was impressed with the poker room and figured he would come out sometime to play cards.

Hollywood Casino is the third state-owned facility to open since the Kansas Legislature approved four casinos in 2007. Boot Hill Casino opened in Dodge City in 2009, and the Kansas Star Casino opened last month near Mulvane. The fourth casino spot, in southeast Kansas, hasn't been filled as developers are leery of competition with a fairly new tribal casino just over the border in Oklahoma.

When the project was presented to the Kansas Lottery during the application process, consultants said it would generate $203 million in gambling revenue in its first year of operation. A minimum of 22 percent of the gross revenue will go to the state, while an additional 5 percent will go to Wyandotte County government and a fund to combat compulsive gambling.

Sheldon declined to speculate about whether the casino is capable of bringing in that $203 million in its first year.

"They all said the Speedway was going to turn Wyandotte County around and it did it," said Kilderry. "The Legends, the Speedway and this place is all a plus, we needed it and we're glad we got it, just come enjoy it."

The owners estimate 4 million people will visit the casino every year, giving the area a $220 million economic boost.

Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.)  All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.