The building most people now know as the Kansas Star Arena, where touring bands play and rodeo riders compete, was the casino first. Kansas Star opened to the public on 26 December 2011 in what the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission calls an interim facility, ran its first year of slots and tables there, and moved into the permanent casino a year later. The interim hall was then converted into the arena. If you have seen a concert at Kansas Star, you have stood where the first Kansas Star slot floor stood.
The property in numbers
These figures come from Boyd Gaming's own property fact sheet for Kansas Star (dated May 2025). Boyd bought the casino in 2012 from Peninsula Gaming, the company that won the south-central zone contract and built it.
| Address | 777 Kansas Star Drive, Mulvane |
| Phone | (316) 719-5000 |
| Opened | 26 December 2011, in the interim building |
| Manager | Boyd Gaming (games owned by the Kansas Lottery) |
| Gaming floor | 70,010 square feet |
| Slot machines | 1,282 |
| Table games | 42 |
| Hotel | Hampton Inn & Suites, 300 rooms, connected to the casino and arena |
| Arena | 2,234 fixed seats, up to 6,000 for concerts |
| Equestrian Pavilion | 183 stalls and a 100 x 200 open-air practice arena |
Why it sits in Mulvane and not Wichita
Kansas Star exists because of a county line. When the 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act created a south-central gaming zone, each county had to vote. Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, voted against both a casino and slot machines at its racetrack; Sumner County, just to the south, voted for a casino. So the state-owned casino for the Wichita market went into Sumner County instead, at Mulvane. Our casinos near Wichita guide covers what happened next, including the gambling hall that opened on the old greyhound track north of the city in December 2025.
The contract itself took three rounds. Harrah's won the zone in 2008 and withdrew, a second bidder withdrew in 2010, and the Lottery's review board finally picked Peninsula Gaming in December 2010. The regulator watched a live-play test on 16 December 2011 and certified the casino to open ten days later.
On the floor
At 1,282 slots and 42 tables on a 70,010-square-foot floor, Kansas Star is built for a full evening rather than a quick stop. Amenities listed by Boyd include a sportsbook, a VIP services room and three bars: The Star Bar, beside the live tables; Cottonwood Bar; and the bar at Tin Lizard. The sportsbook took its first wagers at noon on 1 September 2022, the day Kansas sports betting began, from ten kiosks in a temporary space, according to KWCH.
Kansas Star Casino restaurants
Boyd lists six places to eat, which is a wide spread for a casino outside a big city:
- Woodfire Grille, the steakhouse: USDA Prime steaks, seafood and a seasonal menu built on local produce. It won an OpenTable Diners' Choice award in 2022.
- Tin Lizard Bar & Grill: half-pound Certified Angus burgers, 22 big screens and free live music on the first full weekend of each month.
- Stella Bistro: pizza, stromboli, salads and hot panini.
- Asian Noodle: noodle soups, pho, Kung Pao chicken, rice bowls and stir fry.
- Taqueria Buena: Oaxacan-style tacos (carne asada, al pastor, achiote) on fresh flour tortillas.
- 35 Brew Street: espresso, pastries, deli sandwiches and salads from breakfast onwards.
The hotel
The Hampton Inn & Suites has 300 rooms and connects directly to both the casino and the arena, so on a concert night you can walk from your room to your seat indoors. Boyd lists free hot breakfast, a fitness centre, an indoor pool and a hot tub.
Upcoming events and the horse barn
Events at Kansas Star split across two very different buildings. The arena, with 42,000 square feet of show and convention space, books national acts, pageants and sporting events, and an 11,234-square-foot ballroom handles smaller shows and banquets. Line-ups change constantly, so the casino's own events calendar is the only reliable list for upcoming dates.
The less obvious one is the Equestrian Pavilion: 183 stalls, wash racks, show offices and an open-air practice ring measuring 100 by 200 feet. Horse shows held there bring a crowd to Mulvane that has little to do with the slot floor, which is worth knowing if you are booking a room on a show weekend.
Kansas Star Casino reviews: what visitors should expect
We have not run an in-person test here, so treat this as a description rather than a verdict. Kansas Star suits a visitor who wants a big table selection, a proper steakhouse and a show in one trip, and the horse barn makes it an unusual casino by any standard. Visitors looking for a quieter slot room may prefer one of the smaller Kansas floors listed in our statewide casino guide.
Playing from home instead
Mulvane is an easy drive for south-central Kansas, but not for every evening. Sweepstakes casinos run slot and table-style games on a free-coin promotional model, and our Kansas sweepstakes casino rankings compare the platforms that accept players in the state.
Frequently asked questions
When did Kansas Star Casino open?
On 26 December 2011, in an interim building. The permanent casino opened a year later and the interim building became the arena.
How many rooms does the Kansas Star hotel have?
300, in a Hampton Inn & Suites connected to the casino and arena.
What restaurants are at Kansas Star Casino?
Woodfire Grille, Tin Lizard Bar & Grill, Stella Bistro, Asian Noodle, Taqueria Buena and 35 Brew Street.
Who runs Kansas Star?
Boyd Gaming manages it; the games are owned by the Kansas Lottery.
