"It’s a subtle change, but one that should be noted nonetheless.

The Wyandotte Nation Casino, the newest casino in Oklahoma, is teaming up with Northpark Mall, the most visited destination in Joplin.

This does not mean slot machines are coming to the mall.

So what does this mean? It means that Joplin is becoming a casino town, and you should expect to see more of these collaborations in the future as the new casinos start operations just west of Joplin. This is a precursor of what is to come.

Last week’s column focused on this impending change. The column explained how the Quapaw Tribe’s Downstream Casino Resort involves an initial investment of $200 million and the creation of 1,200 jobs with an annual payroll of $51 million.

I received some updated numbers last week from the developers of the casino. The initial investment is now closer to $300 million. Over time, the multiphase project will involve a layout of $800 million to $1 billion. Up to 3,000 jobs could be created.

Now consider that the Hollywood Casino-Cherokee County probably will be just as large as the Downstream.

There is only one word to describe their impact on Joplin: huge."

Get the Story:
Wally Kennedy: Joplin becoming casino hub (The Joplin Globe 2/4)