Disciplines
Gaming and Casino Operations Management | Gaming Law
Document Type
Original Research Article
Abstract
This paper looks at the recent history of allocation of exclusive franchise or limited franchise casino licenses in jurisdictions throughout the world and comments on their strengths and weaknesses as well as successes and failures of various strategies that have been undertaken. The paper then examines the Kansas legalization and bidding process that emerged between 2007 and 2009 as a case study in evaluating the effectiveness of various principles that had emerged via the legislation and subsequent procedural decisions. The authors offer the opinion that many of the principles and processes developed in Kansas were based on those that had been implemented in successful bid processes in other jurisdictions. In spite of the inability or unwillingness by several winning bidders to act upon their awarded bids in Kansas in 2008 and the subsequent thinning of the bidding pool in 2009, primarily related to the severe economic downturn that affected the general economy and the casino industry in particular, the authors suggest the Kansas model provides an excellent template for other jurisdictions to develop and to execute similar processes in the future.