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TOPEKA — A Kansas regulatory board is investigating employees of a state-owned casino in Dodge City over allegations they were involved in illegal off-site poker games.
About two dozen could face suspension or loss of their state licenses, a board spokesman said Friday.
The state Racing and Gaming Commission provided few details about the allegations surrounding the workers at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort. But spokesman Bill Miskell said most worked at the casino's table games and that the employees under investigation will receive notices that their licenses, which they need to work in the casino, are under review.
"Our investigation has determined with certainty that games were occurring weekly," Miskell said. "We are not in a position at this time to provide more specific details regarding the investigation."
Sharon Stroburg, the casino's general manager, said allegations about employees' activities were brought to its attention and several employees resigned. But she said she couldn't provide other details because of privacy concerns.
"We took corrective action," she said.
Boot Hill opened in December 2009, the first of three planned casinos to be operated by a private developer under a contract with the Kansas Lottery. By law the state owns the rights to the gambling and the gambling equipment and claims 22 percent of the revenue.
The Dodge City casino is the smallest of the three. According to the state, it generated $38 million in gambling revenue last year, and the state's share was about $8 million. In addition to 13 gambling tables, it has more than 580 slot machines.
The gaming commission did not provide details about when or where the off-site poker games occurred, who organized them or what happened to money generated by them. Miskell said the commission's agents did not raid any of the games or seize money.
Stroburg said, "We don't have proof of anything outside our property."
Ed Van Petten, the Kansas Lottery's executive director, said there's no indication the casino operators are in breach of their contract with the lottery, though he said it won't know for sure until the gaming commission finishes its investigation.
"To our knowledge, the managers themselves weren't involved," he said.
Miskell said each employee's case goes to a three-member disciplinary board set up by the gaming commission. Once the board determines that either state law or commission regulation has been violated, the employee will receive a written notice of the allegations and an opportunity for a hearing. The board will hear the case; the Racing and Gaming Commission considers appeals.
Miskell said the commission is focusing on the violations of its rules rather than "the illegal nature of the activity." However, he said other state and local officials have been notified.
