The Kansas Lottery Commission is extending Sumner County's deadline for submitting casino applications so more developers can offer proposals.

The commission extended the deadline by 45 days, to November 28th.

The commission previously granted extensions for the other areas
where casinos will be allowed: Ford County, Wyandotte County and
either Crawford or Cherokee county.

The Sumner County Commission requested the extra time.

Sumner County officials say they will decide December 12th which proposals should be forwarded the lottery.

The county says four potential developer are Binion's of Las Vegas; Sumner County Gaming and Resorts, a group of Topeka investors partnering with Harrah's; a Canadian developer, Brian Hamm; and a group that includes the Foxwoods, a resort casino in Connecticut operated by an Indian tribe.

Two others haven't identified themselves publicly.

The following timeline is now in place:

Nov. 28, 2007, 12 p.m. Proposals due. Draft pre-development agreement distributed to those submitting proposals. Endorsed applicants must agree to enter into pre-development agreement and must have someone with authority to sign for endorsed applicant at the hearing on Dec. 12, 2007.

Nov. 28, 2007, 1 p.m. Proposals distributed to BOCC and Proposal Comparison Committee Members (“PCC”) for individual review.

Nov. 28, 2007, approx.. 4 p.m. Digital copies of proposals released

Dec. 5-7, 2007, 9 a.m. PCC meet to draft proposal summary and comparison spreadsheet to be distributed to BOCC.

Final proposal summary and comparison spreadsheet distributed to BOCC, on or before Dec. 7.

Dec. 10, 2007 12 p.m. Deadline to sign up to speak during public comment period of public hearings.

Public comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Comments must be addressed to the issue at hand – the question of BOCC endorsement of proposals. Comment on other matters is discouraged. Speakers must be signed up by the deadline, or they will not be allowed to speak.

Dec. 10-11, 2007 Public hearings on proposals (order of presentations will be decided by lot, working backwards from final proposal). Location: Raymond Frye Complex, 320 N. Jefferson, Wellington. Start time on Dec. 10, will be determined by the number of proposals received.

Each applicant allotted 90 minutes to make presentations and field questions from BOCC.

Public comment period will commence after the noon recess on Dec. 11. Hearings close.

Dec. 12, 2007 BOCC meets in special session to discuss and vote on endorsement of proposal(s). Time and location: To be Determined and announce at a later date.