Mike Ensign, casino magnate and the father of Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), has reportedly dropped a casino proposal in Kansas.
The Associated Press reports that the group Ensign was working with, South Central Gaming Partners, decided to drop their proposal and instead back one by Foxwoods. The two firms had originally submitted competing proposals; now, Foxwoods’ will go forward, along with that of a third developer.
An attorney for the Kansas Lottery, which is reviewing the proposals, said it was a business decision and that the lottery was not involved.
Mike Ensign and his wife were recently caught up in their son’s scandal, admitting that they paid $96,000 to Sen. Ensign’s mistress and her husband, both of whom worked for the senator. Mike Ensign earned around $300 million in the early 2000s when he sold his shares of the Mandalay Bay Group, which owned Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas.
A few weeks ago, lottery officials said there’d be an ethics investigation into Mike Ensign before his proposal could be approved.
But now, an official says it wasn’t a concern for the Lottery.
“That’s not an issue to us at all. There hasn’t been any allegation of wrongdoing at all,” said executive director Ed Van Petten.