The expansion of casinos owned by American Indians just across the Oklahoma state line in Kansas has had a mixed impact on Arkansas City retailers and realtors.

While real estate agents say the casinos are causing an increase in demand for rental property and home sales retailers give different accounts of how customers traveling to the casinos have affected their businesses.

Three casinos currently operating less than 10 miles into Oklahoma are attracting customers from across Kansas and the Ponca tribe has completed plans for a fourth casino and hotel.

The casinos are hiring hundreds of people and construction workers coming to the area to work on the fourth which is raising interest in Arkansas City's housing market.

But merchants differ on whether casino customers and new employees are helping business in the town. Those on Interstate 35 say they're seeing an increase in business but businesses in Arkansas City say casino customers don't go into town.

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