DUBUQUE (KCRG-TV9)- Linn County will not be receiving a casino after a Thursday vote failed to pass.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 3-2 against a Linn County casino license proposal.
Three years ago the vote was 4-1 against the license.
Gaming commissioners reviewed three proposals for the license. Two come from Cedar Rapids Development Group. One of those is similar to a proposal three years ago, a $196 million Cedar Crossing development on the west side of the Cedar River. The other is a smaller plan, Cedar Crossing Central, that calls for putting a $106 million casino in downtown Cedar Rapids by replacing a parkade next to the U.S. Cellular Center.
The third option comes from Wild Rose Entertainment, which plans for a smaller “boutique” casino on First Avenue Southeast, next to the Skogman building. Its plan calls for an estimated construction cost of about $42 million.
Wild Rose Entertainment issued the following statement regarding the vote:
We believe that our proposal struck a delicate balance in terms of offering long-term benefits to Cedar Rapids and Linn County—entertainment; support for downtown hotels, restaurants, theaters, concerts and shops; and nonprofit funding—while also addressing the concerns articulated by the commission back in 2014. It is disappointing that Linn County will not get a gaming license; as always, we respect the decision of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commissioners. Wild Rose continues to operate in Iowa, and our team remains focused on identifying new ways to grow and expand our operations in the Midwest.
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