In July, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission awarded the billionaire casino mogul's development group a license to operate 1,000 historic horse-racing machines at the site of the former Wichita Greyhound Park.
The city's decision Tuesday approved the rezoning of a general commercial office district to an entertainment district and service business district at the northwest corner of 77th and Hydraulic, and permitted a casino and historic horse-racing special use within that entertainment district.
Ruffin's Golden Circle casino group plans to build a hotel, restaurants and entertainment around the machines, which allow patrons to bet on past horse races without any information about the race.
Pad sites for potential restaurant and other uses are located directly south of the former greyhound park.
The entertainment and service business district rezoning passed 8-0, while the casino and historic horse-racing special use passed 7-1 — with Council member George Glover voting against.
The city's decision Tuesday approved the rezoning of a general commercial office district to an entertainment district and service business district at the northwest corner of 77th and Hydraulic, and permitted a casino and historic horse-racing special use within that entertainment district.
Ruffin's Golden Circle casino group plans to build a hotel, restaurants and entertainment around the machines, which allow patrons to bet on past horse races without any information about the race.
Pad sites for potential restaurant and other uses are located directly south of the former greyhound park.
The entertainment and service business district rezoning passed 8-0, while the casino and historic horse-racing special use passed 7-1 — with Council member George Glover voting against.
Construction work has already been progressing at the over 70-acre site. The casino is expected to open by early 2025.
Ruffin previously told the WBJ that the project would cost between $100 million and $150 million.
For Ruffin, last summer's Racing and Gaming Commission decision marked the end of a 15-year journey that started when he was denied a license to operate slot machines at Wichita Greyhound Park in 2008.
Ruffin previously told the WBJ that the project would cost between $100 million and $150 million.
For Ruffin, last summer's Racing and Gaming Commission decision marked the end of a 15-year journey that started when he was denied a license to operate slot machines at Wichita Greyhound Park in 2008.
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