Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and it has no casino, and that was the voters' choice. In 2007 the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act let each gaming zone hold a county vote. In the south-central zone, Sedgwick County voted against both a casino and slot machines at its racetrack. Sumner County, immediately south, voted yes. The result is the map Wichita players still live with: the state-owned casino went over the county line to Mulvane, and Wichita Greyhound Park, which had been counting on slots, closed on 6 October 2007.
Eighteen years later the same greyhound park reopened with gaming machines after all, which is the answer to anyone searching for a new casino in Wichita, KS.
Kansas Star and Gilley's side by side
| Kansas Star Casino | Gilley's | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | 777 Kansas Star Drive, Mulvane (south) | 1500 E. 77th Street North, Park City (north, off I-135) |
| What it is | State-owned casino, games owned by the Kansas Lottery | Historical horse racing gambling hall |
| Opened | 26 December 2011 | 15 December 2025 |
| Games | 1,282 slots and 42 live tables | About 1,000 historical horse racing machines, plus a racebook |
| Hotel | 300-room Hampton Inn & Suites, connected | None at opening |
| Run by | Boyd Gaming | Phil Ruffin |
North: Gilley's on the old greyhound track
The history behind Gilley's runs through one owner. Phil Ruffin, the Las Vegas operator who also owns Treasure Island on the Strip, bought Wichita Greyhound Park in 1997 to save the struggling track, according to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. The 2007 vote left it without slots and it shut that autumn. In 2022, Kansas lawmakers approved historical horse racing machines, and Ruffin used them to bring the site back.
Gilley's opened at 6pm on Monday 15 December 2025, roughly ten miles north of Wichita at the 77th Street exit on I-135. Its roughly 1,000 machines look and play much like slots, but each result is drawn from the outcome of a past horse race, and the machines are pari-mutuel devices rather than slot machines. The regulator lists Gilley's as a historical horse racing gambling hall, separate from the four state-owned casinos.
The hall is built as an entertainment complex as much as a gaming floor. The opening line-up included a racebook with simulcast racing, the Golden Circle sports bar, an arcade called Hi Score with golf simulators and bowling, Gilley's Saloon & Dance Hall, Gilley's BBQ and an outdoor venue for festivals and rodeos, with pickleball courts planned. Live table games were not part of the announced line-up; for blackjack or craps, plan on driving south.
South: Kansas Star in Mulvane
Kansas Star is the full casino in the Wichita market, and Boyd Gaming's fact sheet makes the difference plain. The floor covers 70,010 square feet with 1,282 slots and 42 table games, plus a sportsbook and a VIP services room. Six restaurants run from the Woodfire Grille steakhouse to Tin Lizard Bar & Grill and a taqueria. The connected Hampton Inn & Suites has 300 rooms, and the arena seats up to 6,000 for concerts. Our Kansas Star Casino guide covers it in detail, including the arena's unusual first life as the casino itself.
Which one for which evening
For live tables, a steak dinner and a room for the night, Kansas Star. For a quick session north of town, a racebook or a night of country music at the dance hall, Gilley's. Neither is inside Wichita's city limits.
Further afield
The other state-owned casinos are a long way from south-central Kansas: Boot Hill in Dodge City to the west and Kansas Crossing in Pittsburg in the far south-east. The tribal casinos are all in the north-east corner of the state. Our casinos in Kansas guide maps every one by region.
Playing from home instead
For Wichita players, both options mean a drive out of town. Sweepstakes casinos run slot and table-style games on a free-coin promotional model; our Kansas sweepstakes casino rankings compare the platforms that accept players in the state.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a casino in Wichita, KS?
Not within the city. Kansas Star is in Mulvane to the south, and Gilley's is in Park City to the north.
What is the new casino near Wichita?
Gilley's, a historical horse racing gambling hall on the site of the former Wichita Greyhound Park in Park City. It opened on 15 December 2025.
Why doesn't Wichita have a casino?
In 2007 Sedgwick County voted against both a casino and slots at the racetrack, while neighbouring Sumner County voted for a casino.
Does Gilley's have table games?
Its announced line-up is historical horse racing machines and a racebook. For live tables, Kansas Star has 42.
