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Casino a draw for area residents
Published 12/18/2009 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
Susana Martinez, Leoti, hadn't been to a casino before. Thursday night in Dodge City, she tried her luck at the Boot Hill Casino & Resort.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram Nora Rocha, left, and her daughter Susana Martinez, both of Leoti, give the slot machines a whirl Thursday night at th Boot Hill Casino & Resort.
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Courtesy Photo The Boot Hill Casino & Resort in Dodge City opened to the public on Tuesday, the first state-owned casino in Kansas.
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Courtesy Photo The casino floor is shown in this courtesy photo taken at the main entrance to the Boot Hill Casino. Casino officials say that about one-third of the people registered for the PlayerÕs Club are from Dodge City, and the rest are from other places.
She sat behind the slot machine at about 9 p.m. and, having been there since 7 p.m., said she had won a few times.
Martinez was one of many area people placing bets this week at the Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas' first state-owned, non-tribal casino.
The casino, with 20,000 square feet of gaming space, opened Tuesday.
Orlando Kinney, Garden City, sat at a Black Jack table Thursday night while his wife read a book at a slot machine.
Kinney, who has been to casinos in Las Vegas, Topeka and the Kansas City area, said he was impressed with the Boot Hill Casino.
"It's a nice layout, nice and wide open space. People were definitely having fun. It's a good experience in western Kansas," Kinney said Thursday after he left the casino.
Kinney may not have won as much as he would have liked, but had a good time.
"I didn't come out a winner, but I had fun," he said.
Jarek Mader, 22, Garden City, is a slot machine supervisor at the casino and commutes each day. Mader said Thursday night that he'd seen a lot of people from Garden City coming to try their luck at the casino.
Mader said people have hit from $1,200 to $5,000 jackpots already at the casino.
For Jessie McNiece, casino database manager in marketing, a job at the casino brought her back to the area. McNiece, originally from Cimarron, has a degree from Kansas State University and after graduating college McNiece lived in the Kansas City area then moved back for her job.
She reported out of the 2,000 people that had registered for the Player's Club, one-third of the people registered were from Dodge City and the rest were from outlying areas or other places.
McNiece said the casino not only has given her a job but has created jobs for others.
"The casino is something positive for western Kansas. We've created jobs out here and are still hiring," McNiece said.
She said positions were available for, but not limited to the bar, saloon, restaurant and on the casino floor.
According to a media release from Boot Hill Casino, Phase I brought 300 jobs to the region and Phase II will add 600 full-time positions.
Ground broke for the Boot Hill Casino on Dec. 11, 2008. The casino opening Tuesday welcomed the public with the completion of Phase I, a wing with 584 slot machines and 12 gaming tables.
Phase II, projected for completion in February, will add 15,000 square feet of additional gaming space.
Current amenities include a 150-seat dining restaurant and bar with American food and an Old West setting. Phase I also has a snack bar and general store with souvenirs and gifts.
Phase II will add a 124-room hotel with guest rooms and suites, an indoor heated pool, a 3,000-square-foot salon and spa, additional dining, a 20,000-square-foot conference and entertainment facility, 300 new slot machines and 12 new table games.
The Boot Hill Casino & Resort will be the fourth largest employer in the region, according to a media release from the casino.
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