KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - State Sets Up Gambling Programs: Dodge City Still has Worries

State Sets Up Gambling Programs: Dodge City Still has Worries

(DODGE CITY, Kan.)

Four months to go. Boot Hill Casino and Resort will become the first state run casino in Kansas when it opens this December.

While it promises money and jobs for the area, there's still a concern it brings more crime and addiction.

Patrick Kleckers job to help keep felons who are on probation, out of prison. Something that could soon get a little more challenging at Community Corrections.

"The bulk of our people have underlying drug problems and there's such a close connection between one addiction and another addiction."

Because of Dodge City's new casino, he's already gone through training to counsel people through gambling problems, and is glad the state is stepping in as well.

Thursday morning, the Kansas Responsible Gambling Alliance announced a new website, phone number and self exclusion list for people dealing with gambling addiction. But even with those in place, there are still concerns about what a casino will mean for families in Ford County.

Many of Dodge City's churches were against the idea gambling from the beginning, and while they say the hotline and the website are a good start they still feel a lot of the responsibility will fall on them.

"As of now we see people almost everyday that come to our church in need of help with resources from gas, to food, to electrical, whatever and I'm afraid this is just going to keep going up," explains Pastor Greg Savage.

He went door to door handing out 'vote no' pamphlets before the casino vote happened nearly two years ago.

Today, he says there's nothing he can do to stop what's happening but he and others can help those who need it.

"Churches just need to step up and be willing to help and to love people. That's what it will always come back to, find ways to love people."

A town preparing for the good and the bad a casino may bring.

The new Gambling hotline can be reached at 1-800-522-4700. The website is ksgamblinghelp.com, but officials say it may be a few days before if officially goes live.