Exclusive: Inside The Legal Battle Over Cedar Rapids New Casino

You might be asking, what is the Cedar Crossing Casino? Well, they say "Cedar Crossing is the proposed $275 million entertainment and cultural arts complex that will be developed in Linn County. At its heart, Cedar Crossing includes 700 slot machines and 22 table games, delivering an unparalleled gaming experience. Cedar Crossing will feature a vibrant mix of restaurants, a 1,500-capacity entertainment venue, an Arts & Cultural Center, and a cutting-edge STEM lab for area youth."

Who is Opposed to The Cedar Crossing Casino?

So, here’s the deal: Riverside Casino, along with its nonprofit sidekick the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, is throwing a legal wrench in the plans to open a new casino in Cedar Rapids.

They’ve petitioned the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), saying “Hold up, Cedar Rapids. Not so fast!” Their argument? The 2021 referendum in Linn County only gave the green light to continue gambling, not opening a whole new casino. According to Riverside’s legal team, the county’s vote didn’t meet the specific requirements in Iowa law to launch a brand-new gaming operation. They're saying Cedar Rapids is trying to skip some important legal steps.

If You Build It They Will Come... to Cedar Rapids

On the other hand, the folks behind the proposed Cedar Crossing Casino (mainly the Linn County Gaming Association) are all in on making this happen. They argue that the 2021 vote totally approved gambling, and that the casino would bring in all kinds of good stuff: more money for local and state governments, jobs, and tons of support for nonprofits. We're talking millions of dollars that could help address things like homelessness, food insecurity, and healthcare. Plus, they say the casino’s location would give Cedar Rapids an economic boost, benefiting not just the city, but surrounding areas, too.

The Gambler Wasn't Just Kenny Rogers

Before I was old enough to gamble, my grandma and her friends used to make regular trips to Atlantic City in New Jersey for a fun day out. Turns out, she was serious about her slot machines. She had a thing for the one-armed bandits and would spend most of her time in front of them. But here’s the kicker—she was always watching the whole room.

She would keep track of which machines had been hot and which ones hadn’t paid out in a while. She had this almost supernatural knack for picking the right one, like she could make the machines do what she wanted.

As for me, I’ve gambled a few times in my life. Two or three, maybe. My big win was about 25 years ago in Las Vegas—turning $50 into $1,000 playing craps at The Hard Rock. The Hard Rock is no longer open, it's now called Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

But then, just a few months later, I hit Foxwoods Resort and Casino, and that $50 vanished in about five minutes. That pretty much sums up my gambling career: win big, lose fast, and then call it a day. Maybe my luck would change in Cedar Rapids.

There Is Drama Surrounding the Casino

Now, let’s talk about the timeline and the political drama. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is going to meet in February to make a big decision on whether to grant the license to the new casino.

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But here’s the catch, the Iowa state legislature is also considering a moratorium on new casino licenses, which could slam the brakes on Cedar Rapids' casino if they pass it before the commission votes. Riverside and its allies are even running a campaign warning that a new casino could hurt existing casinos, especially those in rural areas, and threaten the nonprofits that depend on them.

Supporters of Cedar Rapids’ casino, though, are arguing back, saying it’s a win-win. Sure, some existing casinos might see a drop in revenue, but the new Cedar Rapids casino would generate more money overall for the state. It’s like when your local coffee shop opens a second location—there might be some tough competition, but there’s also a bigger pie for everyone.

So, in short, it’s a heated showdown: Cedar Rapids wants to roll the dice on a new casino, but the competition is raising some serious objections. Grab your popcorn—this one could get interesting!