The Kansas Lottery Commission says Jan. 20 is the new deadline for submitting applications to manage a state-owned casino in southeast Kansas.

The commission's announcement Thursday follows Penn National Gaming Inc. pulling out of Cherokee County after it was awarded the
contract. The company cited competition from a nearby Oklahoma tribal casino. Reopening the application process means Cherokee and Crawford counties are in the running to host a casino.

Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten said nobody has expressed interest in southeast Kansas, but he is expecting bidders.