TOPEKA, KAN. - The Kansas Lottery Commission says the Ozark Trail Gaming LLC received a letter Tuesday from the commission saying their application to manage a state-owned casino in Cherokee County has been rejected.

The group was informed that its application was rejected because its application must be rejected because it fails to demonstrate that the applicant meets the minimum requirements to become a Lottery Gaming Facility Manager.

The letter states, in part, that the applicant "provided no information that would indicate that Ozark Trail has access to financial resources to support the activities required of a Lottery Gaming Facility Manager," and "no evidence that the applicant has any Class III gaming experience," as required by the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act.

The application process will remain open for the Southeast Gaming Zone.  The deadline for new applications is January 19, 2010.

Ozark Trail Gaming may submit a new application before the deadline if it wishes.

Ozark Trail Gaming LLC proposed to build a casino in Cherokee County at U.S. Highway 166/400, one mile north of I-44.