TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A Las Vegas company won't be allowed to compete for the right to build and manage a casino in the Dodge City area.

The state Lottery Commission refused Monday to accept a late application from Epic Gaming for a 65 million-dollar complex in southeast Dodge City. The lottery will own the new gambling operation but will hire developers to build and manage the casino.

The deadline for submitting an application for Ford County was Dec. 26, but problems with copying the lengthy document prevented Epic from submitting its plan until the next day. It asked the Lottery Commission to extend the deadline for a day.

But the commission voted unanimously against the idea. That leaves two other Las Vegas companies to compete for the Ford County contract.

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