Note from PCJ Editor Wayne Senville:

Perhaps you’re planning on doing some gambling this New Years’ weekend … maybe even at the new casino in Dodge City, Kansas. I visited Dodge City in June 2007, just a few days before city residents voted to proceed with casino gambling — authorized earlier that year by the Kansas legislature.

Many in Dodge City view casinos as an important economic development strategy. This short video is the case the winning bidder (Butler National) made for the right to build a casino in Dodge. Take a look, also, at my 2007 post on Dodge City which looks at both sides of the argument on casinos.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about the impacts of casinos. While they can bring new revenues into communities, they also come with a downside too often given short shrift — the addictive nature of gambling and its potential devastating impact on families.

For Dodge City, the question also is how well the casinos will fit with the historic “Wild West” image/brand the City is trying to convey and strengthen. That remains to be seen.

Update: see the now opened Boot Hill Casino & Resort web site.