Month: October 2020

Armed robbery reported at Eaton and Chester

Armed robbery was reported at 2:46 a.m. Oct. 13 at Eaton and Chester, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. The location is east of Rainbow Boulevard and west of State Line Road.

Officers responded to a call on a possible armed robbery, according to the report. When the officers arrived, the victim reported he had been driving and came upon a man in his 20s in the road.

When the victim came to a stop, a second man, also a man in his 20s, came up to the window and asked him for a dollar, the report stated.

Then the suspect who had been in the road pulled out a gun and demanded all the victim’s money, according to the report. The victim complied, the report stated.

Aggravated assault reported in 800 block of Splitlog

Aggravated assault was reported at 7:50 p.m. Oct. 13 in the 800 block of Splitlog, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

When officers arrived, the victim and witnesses reported that three males arrived at the residence demanding money from the victim.

The victim thought it was because he was behind on payments on a new vehicle. When he was unable to provide any money, one of the suspects punched him about the face, causing minor injuries, the report stated.

The suspects fled in a vehicle, but returned a short time later, according to the report.

The victim reported that when they returned, the same suspect who earlier hit him then pointed a gun at the victim, causing him to fear for his life, the report stated. Emergency medical personnel and police responded.

September revenues continued to be down compared to the previous year at the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, according to a report to the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting on Oct. 14.

The casino has had fewer machines and games open since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus. There were spacing changes brought about by the need for social distancing, and the number of slot machines were reduced, according to the state lottery.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery, said the state’s four casinos are continuing to try to claw back from total closure last spring.

Hollywood Casino reported gaming revenues at $9.28 million for the month of September 2020, Kocher said. Last year’s September gaming revenues were $10.8 million.

Hollywood Casino reported a decrease in revenues of approximately 20 percent compared to September of 2019, according to a written report by the casino’s general manager, Rick Skinner, to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

Skinner reported that September 2020 admissions were down about 39 percent compared to September 2019.

Kocher said the picture is improving a little, in general. Last month the four state casinos were collectively down about 18 percent, and they have now reduced that to about 15 percent, he said.

The state of Kansas receives 22 percent of the gaming revenues, while the Unified Government receives 3 percent. The difference between last year’s 3 percent to the local government and this year’s is about $76,700.

Safety measures continue at the state’s casinos, with spacing in effect, and also, everyone continues to wear masks, according to Kocher.

Skinner’s report stated that there were several promotions planned for the Hollywood Casino. On Oct. 16, there is a Hollywood Casino 400 giveaway planned. Promotions planned in November include a “Gobble up the Cash” event on Nov. 7; a $35,000 VIP shopping spree on Nov. 21; a pie giveaway on Nov. 25; and a treasure chest promotion on Nov. 27.

Stephen Durrell, executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said he wanted to commend the casinos for their continued efforts to keep the patrons and staff as safe as possible.

He said the casinos have been proactive, and anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 is staying home. Even those whose family members have possibly been exposed are staying home, he said.

“I really applaud their efforts. I know they are doing their best to make sure they are protecting their other employees and guests,” Durrell said.

Although the Kansas Lottery will not have a ticket booth at the Kansas Speedway races this year, the lottery is continuing as the sponsor of the Saturday XFinity race at the Speedway, he said. There will be no fans at the race on Saturday, and the Speedway is having limited fan attendance on Sunday at the NASCAR Cup Series race.

After a cancellation by a previous starter, and after hearing race car driver Clint Bowyer announced his retirement, the lottery reached out to Bowyer to be the starter for the Kansas Lottery XFinity series race at 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Durrell.

Durrell also reported that instant ticket games seem to be doing very well right now, while games such as Powerball and Mega Millions are still down.

Durrell said he expected to see changes coming for the Powerball and Lucky for Life games. Lucky for Life will be going to seven days a week, he said. There seems to be a trend where players do not want to wait days to see if they won, according to Durrell.