Month: May 2018

April gaming revenues reported at Hollywood Casino in KCK

April gaming revenues at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, were reported today at the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting.

The report on Wednesday showed Hollywood Casino gaming revenues were $13.06 million in April as compared to $14.3 million in March, according to figures from the Kansas Lottery. March gaming revenues had increased from $11.6 million in February at Hollywood Casino.

All four state casinos, added together, came in with $3.76 million less in April than in March in gaming revenues, according to the lottery commission reports.

When gaming revenues were compared this April to April of 2017, three casinos reported increases while Kansas Star reported a decrease, according to lottery officials.

The revenues typically fluctuate depending on factors such as the number of Fridays and Saturdays in a month and the weather.

Several promotions are ongoing at the casinos. The strong March performance at Hollywood Casino was attributed to social media and direct mail campaigns, along with promotional events. The Hollywood Casino in March started a partnership agreement with Sporting Kansas City, in which soccer fans can park in the casino parking garage, then take a shuttle bus to the entrance of Sporting KC, according to a report to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

The gaming revenues for April at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas, dropped almost $2 million over the month, registering a total of $16.1 million in April as compared to $18.08 million in March, according to Wednesday’s Lottery Commission report.

The Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas, reported April revenues of $3.9 million compared to $4.1 million in March. Boot Hill’s April 2018 revenue was up 6 percent compared to April 2017. The Kansas Crossing Casino in Pittsburg, Kansas, reported $3.1 million in gaming revenues for April as compared to $3.45 million in March, according to the lottery report. Kansas Crossing’s April revenues were up one-half percent from April 2018 to April 2017, with a 5.5 percent increase in slots revenue, and a 41.7 percent decrease in table revenues.

Lottery Commissioner Jim Washington of Basehor requested an explanation on the Kansas Star Casino revenue figures, and lottery officials responded that they would ask about it.

According to a report in Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission’s May agenda, total gross gaming revenue at Kansas Star was down 3.7 percent from April 2017. April admissions were down 4.3 percent over the same period. According to the April minutes of the KRGC, a major debt refinance transaction of Boyd Gaming Corp., an affiliate of Kansas Star Casino, was taking place.

KCKCC gets chance for revenge in playoff opener Friday

Second in the Jayhawk Conference with nine wins, sophomore righthander Cole Gacke (9-2) will draw the starting mound appearance for KCKCC against Neosho County Friday in Wichita. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College will get a chance to avenge some pivotal losses when the Blue Devils open NJCAA Region VI playoff action Friday night.

The Blue Devils will open the playoffs at Wichita’s Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. against Neosho County, a team that defeated KCKCC three straight times in mid-April. A win would most likely send the Blue Devils into semifinal round play against Jayhawk East champion Cowley College, which swept a four-game series from KCKCC at the end of April.

Third in the Jayhawk East at 19-17, Neosho (40-18) reached the super-regional by sweeping Dodge City 9-0 and 8-4 and has won eight of its last 10 games. The Blue Devils, who finished seventh in the league at 17-19, are 33-24 after sweeping Butler 12-11 and 13-10 in El Dorado in the playoff openers.

KCKCC will send righthanded ace Cole Gacke (9-2) to the mound in Friday’s opener. Gacke pitched the Blue Devils to a 7-inning 10-7 win over Neosho County in the opener of their four-game series April 12. Gacke scattered 10 hits and had a 10-3 lead before the Panthers scored four unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Neosho then rebounded for a 10-6 win at KCKCC and won a pair of one-run decisions at Chanute, 6-5 and 9-8.

“We had a chance to win all three of those games,” said KCKCC head coach Matt Goldbeck. With a team batting average of .321, the critical areas of pitching and defense become even more paramount. “Anytime you get good pitching and play good defense, you have a chance to win.”

Errors have been a problem this season with KCKCC committing 97 compared to 89 for opponents. However, opponents are hitting only .238 against Blue Devil hurlers, who have a combined 4.75 earned run average compared to 7.40 for foes.

A sophomore from Liberty North, Gacke will be making his 14th start this season. He has eight complete games, striking out 65 hitters while giving up just 22 walks in 78 innings. His ERA of 4.81 is second among starters.

Orlando Ortiz (3-5) will get the start in game two with Carlos Soto (4-6) and Bret Snider (2-2) to follow depending on far the Blue Devils advance. All three are freshmen. Ortiz has struck out 88 in just 65 innings but he’s also issued 61 walks, both team highs.

Five Blue Devils are hitting .300 or better led by shortstop Kevin Santiago and all three staring outfielders. A freshman, Santiago is hitting .387 and leads the team in extra base hits (34), home runs (11) and runs-batted-in (62). Leftfielder Josh Schumacher is hitting .367 as the leadoff hitter and leads in runs scored (69) and stolen bases (17); rightfielder Corey Combs is third at .354 and second in home runs (7) and RBI (49); and centerfielder Tyler Pittman is batting .341 with 16 stolen bases. All are sophomores as is first baseman Brandon Still, fourth in hitting (.343) with 44 RBI.

Second baseman Brigham Mooney, who is hitting .287 with 43 RBI, and third baseman Kemper Bednar (.242), whose two-run ninth inning home run broke a 10-10 tie at Butler, round out the infield while Adam North (.280) will start behind the plate.

Gavin Gifford, who is hitting .287 with 39 RBI, will be the designated hitter along with relief work on the mound. Julian Rivera (3-2) has been the leader out of the bullpen with 19 appearances while Gifford (1-0) has allowed just three earned runs, eight hits and struck out 15 in just 12 2/3 innings.

In other first round games Friday, Seward County will play Colby at 10 a.m.; Johnson County will face Barton County at 1 p.m.; and Cowley and Hutchinson will clash at 4 p.m. A win would advance KCKCC into a second-round clash with the Cowley-Hutchinson winner Saturday at 7 p.m.; a loss and the Blue Devils would face the Cowley-Hutchinson loser Saturday at 1 p.m.

Youth Policy Debate to be Saturday

Sen. David Haley

The WyCo Youth Policy Debate will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Kansas City Kansas Community College, Upper Jewell building, 7250 State Ave.

Sponsored annually by State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., the annual debate is open to students attending Harmon, Schlagle, Washington and Wyandotte high schools, Sumner Academy and College Gateway program.

It is the seventh annual event. Sen. Haley started the event in 2012 as a way to encourage political awareness and active citizenry in Wyandotte County youth. In the event, young adults will have an opportunity to think on their feet and be heard by a community audience about current events.

Experience is not required for students to participate. Students may sign up as experienced or beginner and can debate single or duo.

Topics will be given before the event, with preparation time allowed before the debates.

Two rounds of extemporaneous debates will be held in each division. Single debaters will be allowed here minutes while duos will have four minutes. There will be no rebuttals or cross-examination, no files or evidence required. Memorization will not be required.

Members of the community will serve as judges and will determine who advances to the second round. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of the second round from each division.

The event is open to the public, and community members may attend to watch the debate.

To register or for more information, contact Kay Mercer at [email protected] or [email protected].