Two American Indian tribes said they would give Kansas a share of profits from a proposed casino in Wyandotte County if the state would block future competition.

Testifying Thursday before a joint meeting of the House and Senate Federal and State Affairs committees, the Kickapoo Tribe and Sac and Fox Nation said they would build a $175 million hotel and casino near Kansas Speedway. The committee took no action on the proposal.

They want the state to prohibit any new gambling, whether at dog and horse tracks or casinos operated by out-of-state tribes. Their proposal wouldn't affect the state lottery or pari-mutuel betting now available at dog and horse tracks.

Fredia Perkins, Sac and Fox vice chairwoman, said tourists would come to a place with various entertainment options like the area near the speedway where the tribes want to build.

The tribes did not say how much revenue the state would get under any agreement. The state now gets no money from any of the four American Indian casinos, including ones operated by the Kickapoo and Sac and Fox, in northeastern Kansas.

Under the proposal, the other two tribes -- the Prairie Band Potawatomi and the Iowa -- could expand their operations. The Sac and Fox and Kickapoo eventually would close their casinos after the new one opens.

Together, they plan to build a 250-room hotel and 80,000 square-foot casino on 80 acres.



The two tribes' officials said they believed their casino would do well competing with casinos in Kansas City, Mo. About 50 million people live within 500 miles of the Kansas Speedway site, Perkins said.

For the Kickapoo and Sac and Fox to open the casino, the U.S. Interior Department would have to put the land in trust. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would then have to negotiate a compact with the tribes, which would have to be approved by the Legislature.

Matt All, Sebelius' general counsel, said the governor was interested in the proposal and hoped to continue discussions.

Robin Jennison, lobbyist for Wichita Greyhound Park and former House speaker, didn't think much of the proposal.

"It says to the rest of the state, ‘You can't compete and take part in this very popular attraction,"' he said.

Perkins said the tribes would manage the casino, rather than hiring a management company.