Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — There’s a legal challenge to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s decision to grant a state license to a Cedar Rapids casino.
Mark Weinhardt, an attorney for the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, says the commission lacked the authority to make that decision due the wording in a recent gambling referendum that passed with 55 percent support.
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission chairman Daryl Olsen addressed the legal wrangling during yesterday’s (Thursday’s) commission meeting.
Four of the five members of the commission then voted to grant a state casino license to Cedar Rapids yesterday (Thursday). Weinhardt says lawsuit seeks a ruling that would nullify that decision.
During recent proceedings in the Iowa legislature and meetings of the Racing and Gaming Commission, the word cannibalization has often been used. It means a Cedar Rapids casino would draw customers and revenue away from nearby casinos, particularly those in Waterloo and Riverside.
Developers say they hope to open the Cedar Crossing casino complex on New Year’s Eve 2026.
