Bob Sheldon, left, general manager of the Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway, today reported to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission that the casino opening of Feb. 3 is on schedule. The KRGC met at the Kansas Speedway media room, went on a tour and inspection of the new casino  today, and gave it conditional certification. (Staff photo)

   The new Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway received conditional certification today from the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

   After a tour and inspection of the new $400 million facility, the commission voted 5-0 this afternoon to approve conditional certification, allowing the casino to have a controlled demonstration, expected to be at the end of January. Then, the casino operations will be tested, and any proceeds raised will go to charity. After the controlled demonstration, the commission will vote on full certification.

   "We had a good look at it in detail and it's unbelievably beautiful," said William Falstad, chairman of the commission. "It's something to be very proud of."

    He added the commission had a wonderful relationship with the casino management company and there has been a really smooth transition. The new $400 million casino is managed by Kansas Entertainment, a joint venture of Penn National Gaming and International Speedway Corp. The state owns the casino games there.

   The KRGC is in charge of enforcing and making sure the new state casinos follow the state laws.

   A new casino opened last year in Dodge City, Kan., that is quite a bit smaller but is a very nice operation, he said.

   In Mulvane, Kan., the casino facility eventually will be very beautiful, he said. The casino operators are doing construction as it operates, and the facility should see a lot of change by the end of the year.

   The new casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., is on course to open to the public on Feb. 3, General Manager Bob Sheldon said earlier today at the KRGC meeting.

This file photo from Jan. 2 shows the video ribbon that will show pictures and graphics at the new Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Staff file photo)