Phil Ruffin’s Wichita Golden Circle Casino Licensed by Kansas Regulator

Article ByDavid Weir

July 15, 2023

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Posted in: Kansas Gambling News, US Gambling News, US Horse Racing News

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission has granted the state’s only license for historical horse racing (HHR) machines to 88-year-old Wichita billionaire Phil Ruffin’s Golden Circle Casino (rendering pictured).

Ruffin plans to open a HHR casino and country music concert venue at the former Wichita Greyhound Racetrack, which he closed in 2007. He intends to spend $128 million on the project.

Ruffin, who also owns the Circus Circus and Treasure Island casinos and hotels in Las Vegas, is set to transform the park into a three-floor casino with a country music bar and potentially a resort hotel.

“We are ecstatic with the news,” said Phil Ruffin Jr., who will serve as the general manager of Golden Circle when it opens.

“We’ve been working to try to renovate and reopen Wichita Greyhound Park. There’s a lot of space in there. There’s a lot to do. We’re going to have restaurants and pizza by the slice and smoothies and all kinds of great food from our executive chef in Las Vegas, who’s going to come down and train our staff.”

Related: The best online casinos available in Kansas, right now

The Journey to Licensing

The gaming commission’s decision brings Ruffin’s two decade campaign to get a casino built in his native Kansas closer to completion.

The HHR machines, which resemble slot machines but base outcomes on random past horse races, were narrowly rejected by Sedgwick County voters in 2007. Just months later, Ruffin decided to close the greyhound park. He has been consistently trying ever since. to get it turned into a casino.

However, a 2022 Kansas law allowing sports betting also permitted the state gaming commission to award one license to operate 1,000 HHR machines in Sedgwick County.

This led to three groups submitting plans. One operator, Boyd Gaming, was denied a license on grounds it already holds one for operating the Kansas Star Casino with the Kansas Lottery.

Earlier this week, the last competitor to Ruffin, local real estate developer George Latham, was disqualified by his previous connections with Boyd Gaming, as reported by the Wichita Eagle.

That left the Golden Circle as the only prospective licensee at the table. However, the Commission still had to certify the operation was worthy of a licence.

“With the presentations, with the information they provided during the application process, as well as during those three days of hearings, overwhelmingly convinced us they had the wherewithal, economics, the ability, and the vision to be successful with an HHR casino,” said KRGC Chairman David Moses after the meeting.

Speaking after the deal, the younger Ruffin also expressed his family’s determination to see the project through via a quote from legendary basketball coach Jimmy Valvano.

“Don’t ever give up. We never gave up. We got it done,” Ruffin Jr. said.

Long Row to Hoe

Under the Ruffin’s plans, the Wichita Greyhound Park will undergo a $128 million renovation to become the Golden Circle, a three-floor casino.

The first floor will house the 1,000 HHR machines, while the second and third floors will feature bars, televisions broadcasting live horse races, and dining options. The casino will also include a massive country music bar called Gilley’s Dance Hall and Saloon.

The project is expected to create about 300 construction jobs and nearly another 300 permanent jobs at the facility.

Ruffin Jr. also gave some details on when the new venue expects to open for business.

“We’re about 14 months until open. And I want to be ahead of schedule and under budget. It’s a long row to hoe, and we’re really looking forward to it,” he said.

However, despite the greyhound park’s history, Ruffin Jr. assured that Golden Circle does not plan to bring back greyhound racing.