July 2016 – Page 59 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

June revenues down from May at Hollywood Casino

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway reported revenues of $11.3 million for June, a decline of about $1 million compared to May’s $12.3 million.

According to figures released today by the Kansas Lottery Commission, Hollywood Casino had $143.8 million in revenue for fiscal year 2016, which was up by around $1.1 million when compared to fiscal year 2015. It was the Hollywood Casino’s best year ever for revenue.

The casino provided $31.6 million in fiscal year 2016 to the state of Kansas and $4.3 million to the Unified Government in gaming revenues, according to the Kansas Lottery Commission figures.

Since it opened Feb. 3, 2012, the Hollywood Casino has provided $131.6 million to the state of Kansas and $17.9 million to the Unified Government in gaming revenues, according to the lottery commission.

In comparison, the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kan., has provided $184 million to the state of Kansas since it opened, and Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kan., has provided $58.8 million in gaming revenue to the state since its opening.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance for the Kansas Lottery, said the three casinos totals for fiscal year 2016 were close to fiscal year 2015, down by a slight fraction of one percent.

The lottery transferred $82 million to the state of Kansas from the casinos’ gaming revenue this year, and there also was a $5.5 million privilege fee sent to the state for a new casino planned in southeast Kansas, lottery officials said.

While construction is ongoing on for the southeast Kansas hotel next to the casino, the casino also is in court, and an appeal will be heard in the Kansas Supreme Court, according to Kocher.

Hollywood Casino is currently in its first substantial construction project since it opened, he said. It is building a new bar.

Kansas Lottery officials also reported that in fiscal year 2016, sales of lottery tickets were up 8.78 percent over last year.

Also, ticket sales are going well for this year, because Mega Millions was over $500 million last week before someone won it, and Powerball currently has a jackpot of $311 million for tonight’s draw, Lottery officials said. There was a $2 million Mega Millions winner from Franklin County July 8.

In June, the Kansas Lottery awarded $10.2 million in prizes to players, according to Lottery officials, with more than $149 million awarded in fiscal year 2016.

Lottery officials said $78.2 million was transferred to the state of Kansas in fiscal year 2016, and they met a sales goal that was raised two times during the year.

When casino revenue is added to the lottery ticket sales, a total of $163.9 million was transferred to the state, which is a record for the lottery, according to lottery officials.

Sporting KC begins two-game road trip today at Chicago Fire

Sporting Kansas City rekindles a long-time rivalry Wednesday as the club visits Toyota Park for an interconference battle against the Chicago Fire.

The midweek match features a pair of teams headed in opposite directions, with Sporting Kansas City (8-8-4, 28 points) unbeaten in five league games and Chicago (3-8-5, 14 points) sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Wednesday’s contest is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. with three hours of live television coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on 38 The Spot and SKCTV. Listens can also follow the action live on 99.3 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.

Sunday’s 3-1 victory over New York City FC lifted Sporting Kansas City to the .500 mark for the first time since early May. Benny Feilhaber netted his third goal in four league games, Jimmy Medranda opened his MLS scoring account and Ike Opara tallied his first of the season as Sporting KC solidified fifth place in the Western Conference.

After claiming just one win in 11 games from April 13 to June 2, manager Peter Vermes’ men have caught fire over the last three weeks. Sporting KC is 3-0-1 since the regular season resumed June 18 after the Copa America break, the best mark in MLS.

Looking to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement, Chicago is coming off a 1-0 defeat at Toronto FC on Saturday. Despite their position in the table, the Fire have just one loss in their last seven home matches (3-1-3) and are unbeaten in four straight at Toyota park.

First-year head coach Veljko Paunovic guides a team that has shown competitiveness throughout the season, as all but two of Chicago’s 16 matches have been decided by a goal or less. The Fire have also enjoyed recent home success against Sporting Kansas City, collecting wins in four of the last five meetings at Toyota Park.

Forwards Kennedy Igboananike and David Accam have netted four goals apiece, combining for more than half of Chicago’s scoring haul this year (15 goals). Newly acquired Dutch striker Michael de Leeuw made his MLS debut Saturday and is expected to bolster the Fire attack after scoring more than 100 goals over the last six years in the Netherlands.

Sporting Kansas City’s once-stuttering offense has burst to life during its unbeaten run. The club has 10 goals in its last four games and will welcome back leading scorer Dom Dwyer, who returns from his one-game suspension for caution accumulation. The English striker could make his 100th regular season appearance Wednesday, having scored in three of his last four appearances against Chicago.

No team has handed Sporting Kansas City more regular season defeats than the Fire, who own a 25-14-11 edge in the series. Kansas City’s 4-17-2 road record in Chicago is their worst against any MLS club besides Orlando City SC (0-1-0). Vermes’ side has won each of the last two encounters, however, including a 1-0 decision settled by Paulo Nagamura’s game-winner when the teams last met in May 2015 at Children’s Mercy Park.

Chicago enters the matchup without any injury concerns, while Sporting Kansas City’s Chance Myers (hamstring), Paulo Nagmaura (thigh) and Graham Zusi (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Zusi was excellent in his team’s 3-2 win over Columbus Crew SC on July 3 but pulled his hamstring during pregame warmups on Sunday.
– Story from Sporting KC

Thunderstorm watch canceled

A thunderstorm watch has been canceled in Wyandotte County today, according to the National Weather Service weather radio.

Rain and occasional lightning was seen in Wyandotte County around 1 p.m., and thunder could occasionally be heard in the distance.

A weather service radar map showed a storm that is now moving out of the area, and to the south of Wyandotte County.

More thunderstorms are possible after 9 p.m. today, according to the weather service, and could produce heavy rainfall.

Power outages were down to 380 customers in Wyandotte County as of 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Board of Public Utilities outage map.

For more weather information, listen to the National Weather Service weather radio.