Another Chance for Casino in Cedar Rapids as Two-Year Moratorium Ends
The city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a little closer to having its first casino built as the state’s moratorium on new gaming licenses expires on June 30. This week, two entities announced they intend to immediately apply for the license.
There is already land along the west side of the Cedar River earmarked for potential casino development. The city mayor, Tiffany O’Donnell, said that the strip along First Street would be an incredible entertainment destination. The Linn County Gaming Association and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment will jointly apply for the Cedar Crossing casino.
However, this path will still be long and difficult. O’Donnell called the moratorium expiration not a done deal, but just an encouraging step that allows them to apply.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) rejected casino proposals in Linn County in 2014 and 2017. Those decisions came despite voters’ approval having been achieved twice, in 2013 and 2021. Then in 2022, Governor Reynolds signed the two-year moratorium.
O’Donnell said that time hadn’t necessarily been a bad thing as they had an opportunity as a city to make sure that they’re prepared. She added that Cedar Crossing casino could have a major impact on the city’s economic development and would create hundreds of jobs.
If granted a license, Cedar Crossing is going to contribute 8% of its annual gaming revenue to local nonprofit organizations, despite the state requiring only 5%. O’Donnell noted that their following steps would be to attend the July 8 meeting of the IRGC and find out what they need to do in order to hopefully get a casino once and for all.
In other news, Red Rake Gaming enters the US and Canada via DraftKings.
