A proposed on line casino in Iowa’s Cedar Rapids continues to garner assist from state lawmakers and county officers.
An aerial view of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A proposed on line casino for Iowa’s second most populated metropolis continues to draw assist from state and native authorities officers. (Picture: YouTube)
The Cedar Rapids Improvement Group (CRDG) consists of native businesspeople who for greater than a decade have sought a state-issued gaming license. CRDG is partnered with Peninsula Pacific Leisure (P2E), a Los Angeles-based gaming developer and operator, on a proposed $275 million resort challenge referred to as Cedar Crossing.
The plan just lately gained the backing of the Metropolis of Cedar Rapids, Marion Metropolis Council, and Linn County Board of Supervisors. Marion is a part of the Cedar Rapids metro space and neighbors Iowa’s second-most populated metropolis. Cedar Rapids is the county seat of Linn County.
“The on line casino will contribute to our financial range by creating high quality jobs, together with full-time, building, and different not directly associated jobs,” mentioned Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell (R). “Anchoring redevelopment on the west facet of the Cedar River, the on line casino will additional help our restoration from the 2008 flood, together with flood management measures, and producing vital property tax income in a location which has been off the tax roll because the flood.”
O’Donnell believes the on line casino will hold gaming cash in Cedar Rapids that’s presently flowing to casinos in different elements of the state or neighboring jurisdictions.
Assist Rising
The mayor’s feedback echo these of the Linn County Board of Supervisors in its letter encouraging the Iowa Racing & Gaming Fee (IRGC) to embrace a on line casino in Cedar Rapids.
A on line casino in Cedar Rapids has the broad-based assist of enterprise, labor, nonprofits, native governments, and residents in Linn County as demonstrated by the profitable passage of two separate gaming referendums in 2013 and 2021,” the Linn County letter learn. “Now could be the best time to approve a on line casino in Cedar Rapids that may strengthen and improve financial exercise and tourism and supply quite a few and numerous advantages for Linn County residents and guests.”
State lawmakers representing Linn County and the encircling areas are additionally persevering with to get behind the Cedar Crossing concept. A bipartisan group of 10 state senators and representatives just lately wrote the IRGC issuing their assist of the on line casino.
The proposed Cedar Crossing On line casino challenge represents a $250 million funding, backed by dozens of native buyers, that may improve tourism to Iowa,” the lawmakers’ letter learn.
CRDG, via its charitable arm, the Linn County Gaming Affiliation, has pledged to direct 8% of its annual gross gaming income to charity — greater than double Iowa’s 3% mandated minimal.
“This share, greater than double the statutory requirement, will present an estimated $5 million to $7 million yearly, benefiting group organizations all through our area,” the lawmakers continued.
Longtime Coming
Cedar Rapids voters handed native referendums lending public assist to a on line casino in each 2013 and 2021. Native referendums are wanted in Iowa for the IRGC to think about and approve on line casino bids.
The IRGC beforehand declined to license a Cedar Rapids on line casino on market saturation issues. And on the request of Iowa’s present casinos, state lawmakers in 2022 handed a moratorium on new on line casino licenses for 2 years, a brief prohibition that expired on the finish of June.
Whereas Iowa’s operational casinos proceed to contend that extra competitors will harm their companies and result in job layoffs, the IRGC is commissioning a examine on the feasibility of permitting a on line casino in Cedar Rapids.
