WICHITA — The Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane can open as planned the day after Christmas – with sneak previews for players club members later this week – after it received final approval from the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

Richard Petersen-Klein, executive director of the commission, said the casino is certified to open to the public after a so-called “controlled demonstration” held Friday for about 3,000 invited guests.

The demonstration essentially was a trial run for the casino. Gamblers used real money, but proceeds went to charity.

The casino passed its final exam of sorts, the commission announced Monday,

“Our staff has worked diligently with Kansas Star Casino staff over several months to establish and approve the internal control procedures necessary to achieve regulatory compliance and ensure the highest level of gaming integrity in Kansas,” Petersen-Klein said in a news release.

He said the casino’s staff and operational systems were sufficient to show regulatory compliance and “ensure gaming integrity.”

Lucky Star Players Club members can visit the casino this week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The casino will not be open on Christmas Day.

To sign up for the club, go online to www.kansasstarcasino.com/join. Or join in person at one of this week’s sneak previews.

The casino will open to the general public at 8 a.m. Dec. 26.

General manager Scott Cooper said the casino was excited about getting final approval and opening on time, even early. The state casino in Dodge City underwent two controlled demonstrations before getting final approval.

“We were pleased with the reaction, pleased with the crowd, and it went well,” Cooper said Monday.

The casino will donate 100 percent of proceeds to the charities it selected to benefit from the demonstration, Cooper said. He said he didn’t yet know how much money was raised.

Commission spokesman Bill Miskell noted that although the casino received final approval, regulation is “just now entering a new phase that will continue” as long as the casino is open.

“There are members of our enforcement staff who are always on site at the casinos,” he said. “Their responsibility is to ensure that that casino is operating in compliance with the rules and regulations. And they are certified law enforcement.”