Riverside Casino and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation took the next steps on Thursday in the petition process aiming to halt Linn County’s efforts to bring a casino to Cedar Rapids.
Last week, the Linn County legal team submitted a rebuttal to the petition. Thursday, the Riverside group submitted a response to Linn County’s arguments.
Washington County leaders say a Cedar Rapids Casino would negatively impact rural communities, like the City of Washington. That’s just one of several cities currently benefiting from the Riverside Casino.
“It is going to affect our revenue,” Washington County Riverboat Foundation Executive Director Patty Koller said. “It’s going to affect southeast Iowa and the people of southeast Iowa.”
The Washington County Riverboat Foundation says it gives millions every year to non-profits across the state, with 5% of Riverside Casino’s gaming revenue going directly to the organization.
Market studies through the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission found Riverside would be the casino most impacted if Linn County is granted a casino license. The foundation said it is concerned, especially since the Cedar Rapids casino efforts have been ongoing for more than a decade.
“We have had to counter these attempts to take our patrons several times already,” Koller said. “I personally think that there should be a moratorium to stop this from happening.”
While state lawmakers are considering writing up a bill banning new licenses this session, Koller said members of the community agree: there shouldn’t be any more casinos in the Hawkeye State.
“Community members that I have talked to and grant applicants and grantees that have received money from us are very nervous about the fact that Cedar Rapids might infringe on our revenues down here,” Koller said.
Washington County Economic Development Group Executive Director Mary Audia said entire areas of Southeast Iowa could lose out on financial gain, since Riverside Casino brings business to surrounding small-town shops and restaurants.
“We have plenty of casinos in this area. So if you build one and then it takes from us, it does kind of eat away at our profits,” Audia said.
Leaders say it’s harder for Iowa’s countryside to find and benefit from resources that are easily found in larger cities, so they’re not putting their chips on Linn County getting a casino.
“There’s so many other things that are happening in Cedar Rapids, so many good things already happening,” Audia said. “In rural Iowa, it’s a little more challenging when it comes to economic development.”
At the next IRGC meeting on Jan. 23, the commission will hear oral arguments from both legal teams and will consider the petition. A written decision will be made by Jan. 27.
Market study presentations are also set for the Jan. 23 meeting in Jefferson.
If the petition and moratorium do not stop the Linn County efforts in the meantime, the IRGC will make the final call for its gaming license application on Feb. 6.
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