A Riverside Casino has petitioned the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) to dismiss a Cedar Rapids casino application, claiming the county lacks proper gambling authorization.

The petition argues that Linn County's 2021 gaming referendum didn't authorize new gambling operations but merely extended provisions from a 2013 referendum. Since no gambling currently exists in Linn County, Riverside contends the vote to "continue" gaming operations is invalid.

The proposed $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino project includes:

• 700 slot machines
• 22 table games
• Sports betting facility
• 1,500-seat concert hall
• Multiple restaurants and bars
• STEM lab
• 500+ full-time jobs

Impact studies show the new casino would:

• Generate $80 million in additional annual gaming revenue for Iowa
• Redirect 26% of revenue from existing casinos
• Reduce Riverside Casino's revenue by 11.6%

The Linn County Gaming Association would receive 8% of the casino's gross revenue for charitable programs, exceeding the state's 3% minimum requirement.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell criticized the opposition, stating that existing casinos are trying to "unfairly influence" the IRGC despite record profits in recent years.

The IRGC is scheduled to vote on the Cedar Crossing Casino on February 6, 2024. State lawmakers may attempt to pass new casino licensing moratorium legislation before this date, though any approved projects would be grandfathered into the law.

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