The group working to build a casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, avoided one obstacle but is getting ready to face another challenge soon.
Judge Michael Schilling decided not to temporarily halt the process of issuing a casino license in Cedar Rapids. However, he noted that the objections from Riverside Casino and Golf Resort and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation could potentially succeed in court.
The main issue is the wording used in Linn County's referendum. Riverside Casino argues that asking voters to "continue" gaming was misleading because there was no gambling happening in the county before. They believe this might have confused voters.
In his decision, Judge Schilling acknowledged that Riverside showed a good chance their claim about the misleading ballot could succeed. They also demonstrated that issuing a new license might lead to a big revenue loss for Riverside. However, they did not provide evidence that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission failed to properly consider the impact on Riverside. Because of this, the judge denied their request to delay the new casino's licensing process.
Although Judge Schilling agreed that the ballot language was likely misleading, he did not agree with Riverside's claim that the commission did not properly assess the impact on their casino. This part of their argument wasn't enough for him to stop the licensing process.
Cedar Rapids Casino Hearing Scheduled for April 8
Riverside mentioned in their petition that they might have to lay off up to 200 workers if the new casino causes their business to drop. They also said that local charities, which get tens of thousands of dollars from them every year, would lose a lot of money.
Riverside asked the court to pause giving the license to the new casino in Linn County. However, Judge Schilling decided that he wouldn't look at any of the points or evidence about the core issues of the case for now.
Those points will be reviewed later at a hearing scheduled for April 8.
Despite Hearing, Casino Plan Moving Forward
Cedar Rapids broke ground on the $275 million project early last month, with plans to open on New Year's Eve of 2026. It is the largest gaming project in the Hawkeye State's history
The project will include 700 slot machines and 22 table games, including blackjack, poker, and roulette.
The development will feature a vibrant array of restaurants, including "Clubhouse" by Zach Johnson. Johnson, winner of the Masters and the Open, is from Iowa.
Additionally, Cedar Crossing will house a 1,500-capacity entertainment venue that will host top-tier performances and events, drawing visitors from across Iowa and beyond. This venue will elevate entertainment options by attracting fresh energy and helping form a vibrant entertainment district.
The project will also include an Arts & Cultural Center, which will serve as a keystone for community engagement, and a modern STEM lab designed to inspire and educate future innovators.
Cedar Rapids Casino Expected To Generate Millions
The Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center is expected to bring in over $60 million in new gaming revenue for the State of Iowa, according to two market studies.
The two studies, conducted by Marquette Advisors of Minneapolis and The Innovation Group of New Orleans, were commissioned by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
The Linn County Gaming Association is also pledging to return 8% of its revenue to the community by supporting local nonprofits.
In addition to a gaming floor, the project will feature an arts and culture center, a STEM science lab for families, an entertainment venue for concerts and events, as well as restaurants and bars.
Iowa currently has 23 casinos, including four Native American casinos and 19 commercial, or state-licensed, casinos. The state-licensed casinos include 18 land-based ones and one riverboat casino.
