Month: August 2020

Hollywood Casino gaming revenues down 32 percent in July

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County formerly was open 24 hours a day, but now is closed between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. each weeknight for cleaning, according to this sign. It also has had to put more space between slot machines and table games. Gaming revenues were down 32.6 percent in July, according to a report to the Kansas Lottery Commission on Wednesday.

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway reported gaming revenues down 32.6 percent in July, according to a report at the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting on Wednesday.

The casino, which is in Wyandotte County, reported gaming revenues of $8.5 million in July 2020 as compared to $12.6 million in July 2019, according to state figures.

The gaming revenues in July were up slightly from June 2020, when they were $8.45 million.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery, said the other three state-owned casinos also were down in July. Boot Hill at Dodge City, Kansas, was down about 4.5 percent; Kansas Star at Mulvane, Kansas, was down about 11.5 percent; and Kansas Crossing near Pittsburg, Kansas, was down about 4 percent, he said. All four together were about an 18 percent decrease in gaming revenues.

“All the casinos were doing their best to get over the shut-down hump they were in and trying to get customers back in the doors, pedaling as fast as they can,” Kocher said. “We appreciate their efforts.”

The casinos are social distancing, which means some tables are not being used and some slot machines are blocked off, according to lottery officials. A reopening plan was approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, subject to some local health authorities, as well, according to Kocher. Those who go to the casinos must wear masks and have their temperatures taken, he said. There are cleaning regimens in effect.

So far, there have been no real issues at the casinos, he added. He said he is not complaining, but other jurisdictions’ casinos may have different criteria for health and safety and some players may be going to some of those other places across the state lines.

The casino formerly was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but now it is closed for a few hours each weeknight for cleaning, according to a sign at the casino.

According to a written report to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, the 3 percent of the gaming revenues that goes to the Unified Government as a gaming tax was down over $100,000, and was reported at $255,344.42 in July 2020 as compared to $378,861.99 in July 2019. Twenty-two percent goes to the state of Kansas as a gaming tax, and that amount was down a little over $900,000.

Admissions to the casino were down 43.8 percent in July 2020 as compared to July 2019, according to a casino report. There was a decrease of 29.3 percent in slots revenue and a decrease of 53 percent in table games revenue, according to the report. The poker room at the casino remained closed.

According to a written report by Hollywood Casino general manager Rick Skinner to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Hollywood Casino has some special events coming up in the next 30 days that may attract more visitors.

Those include Aug. 22, VIP QuikTrip gift card giveaway; Aug. 28, Yeti giveaway; Sept. 3, gas stove giveaway; and Sept. 8, Pigskin Payoff game, subject to the start and continuing of the NFL season.

Stephen Durrell, executive director of the lottery, said the lottery continues to have discussions with casino managers each week. He said the casinos have been very proactive to make sure their staff is protected and the players are protected.

Durrell said that Powerball ticket sales in Kansas were down 7 percent and Mega Millions down less than 1 percent, while Super Kansas Cash sales were down 35 percent in July.

Those numbers were balanced by instant games, which saw strong sales, up almost 32 percent, he said. National games are an area where Kansas and other states are discussing changes, according to Durrell.

Durrell also said that land in Park City, Kansas, which is a suburb of Wichita, Kansas, was taken into trust several months ago by the Wyandot tribe to put gaming into that region. The lottery was notified last Monday in a news release that the state attorney general’s office has reviewed circumstances under which that ground had been taken into trust and felt sufficient reason existed to file suit. He said they have been taking this issue very seriously.

Driver sentenced to federal prison for smuggling 23 pounds of meth

A driver who was stopped on a Kansas highway with 23 pounds of methamphetamine in his car was sentenced today to 13.6 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Eduardo Garcia-Patino, 45, San Jancinto, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Garcia-Patino was stopped for a traffic violation while driving eastbound on I-70 in Geary County, Kansas. Investigators found a red duffel bag in his truck containing the methamphetamine.

McAllister commended the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the case.

Coronavirus pandemic causes change in career focus

Views

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Joel Goldberg realized he would have to find other ways to make money when the Major League baseball season was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Goldberg, one of the announcers for the Kansas City Royals, is an independent contractor. He said he only gets paid when the team plays. So he is supplementing his income as a motivational speaker. He spoke to a combined meeting, via Zoom, of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfax Industrial Association Thursday, Aug. 13.

Goldberg built his speech around what it takes to make a successful team—trust, energy, accountability and makeup. This applies to athletics as well as other businesses.

Goldberg said trust is something a person must build with good relationships. He said Mike Matheny, the new field manager of the Royals this year, first spent time during the off-season visiting with players. Matheny has an open-door policy for players.

Goldberg said energy is important to baseball although it may not be from the person who is the loudest. He cited Alex Gordon, the Royals outfielder, who expresses energy with a quiet, confident manner. Rex Hudler, another of the Royals’ announcers, expresses enthusiasm with his “Hudisms,” similar to what Yogi Berra did. Salvador Perez, the Royals’ catcher, gives off much energy as part of his personality. Goldberg said.

Accountability means that as a team member, a player has to share the blame when things are not going so well.

The makeup of a team is important—that was something that Dayton Moore realized when he took over as general manager of the Royals in 2006. By acquiring players and negotiating appropriate contracts, he built a team that won the World Series in 2015.

Goldberg grew up in suburban Philadelphia and Chicago. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He came to the Royals in 2008; he also does play-by-play announcing for the Kansas City Mavericks hockey team.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.