Boot Hill Casino eager for 20 more years

The Boot Hill Casino and Resort celebrated its 10th anniversary last week with tables full of dinner, drinks and dice for the enjoyment of its longtime supporters and newfound fans.

The love child of an idea sprang from the “Why Not Dodge?” campaign and the sale of land to a man still very much involved in its growth and development, the casino has proven itself an overachiever of regional economic benefit.

The first state-owned casino opened Dec. 15, 2009. Since then, it has generated more than $12 million in city and county tax revenue and more than $89 million in state tax revenue, Dodge City Mayor Brian Delzeit said.

“There was a tremendous amount of courage shown by people 10 years ago who came out and weren’t always met with positivity,” Delzeit said.