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The decision of Elite Casino Resorts and the company's Riverside Casino & Golf Resort to not challenge the approval of a commercial casino in Cedar Rapids was announced by Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell of Cedar Rapids on Tuesday.
The news was posted on Facebook by O'Donnell, a former television anchor who was elected mayor of the second-most populous city in Iowa in 2021.
“Full steam ahead at Cedar Crossing Casino! With no appeal filed by Riverside, it’s official: we’re going vertical in Cedar Rapids,” the longtime supporter of the casino development posted.
"This transformational project is moving forward — bringing jobs, entertainment, and new energy to our beautiful riverfront,” O’Donnell added.
The $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center project will rebuild 25 acres of municipal-owned land across the Cedar River northwest of the city center. Situated approximately north of Interstate 380, the property has been unoccupied since the 2008 disaster.
700 slot machines, 22 table games, a sportsbook, three dining options, a 1,500-seat entertainment center, an arts and cultural center, and a STEM lab are all included in the project.
The history of Cedar Rapids Casino
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) approved Cedar Crossing by a vote of 4-1 in February. After the Iowa Legislature placed a two-year moratorium that ended on July 1, 2024, the state gaming regulating body was given the authority to provide more gaming concessions.
For almost a dozen years, the Cedar Rapids Development Group (CRDG) has been attempting to field a state-issued gaming license. Due to worries that Iowa's gambling market was saturated, the IRGC and state legislators had repeatedly delayed approving a casino near Cedar Rapids.
The tide eventually turned in Cedar Rapids' favor as the years passed and more members joined the IRGC. Riverside, which is 35 air miles south of Cedar Rapids, will be most adversely affected, according to two impact assessments that the IRGC commissioned.
After that, Riverside and its parent company, Elite, sued the IRGC, arguing that the 2021 gaming referendum that Linn County voters approved was invalid. The plaintiffs contended that only existing gambling was permitted by the local ballot question, which asked voters if the "operation of gambling games … may continue." Riverside lawyers contended that the referendum basically extended nothing because there was not a single casino operating in Linn County in 2021.
State courts weren't in agreement. Cedar Crossing, which has committed to donating a state-high 8% of its yearly gross gaming to charity, can proceed with seriousness now that Riverside/Elite has decided not to appeal Eighth Judicial District Judge Michael Schilling's June decision that the referendum was fair. When the casino is ready, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment will operate it.
The decline of Riverside
Cedar Crossing's supporters stated that Riverside was only attempting to preserve its turf and ward off competition. Many of Riverside's detractors claim that the casino has declined.
Many Iowans who think Riverside is a shadow of its former self have expressed this opinion to Casino.org.
"Riverside has been fat and lazy for far too long, just like any semi-monopoly that doesn’t really have to compete for business,” read one comment on our coverage. “They’ve been open almost 20 years. They have more than made back their investment. Maybe now they will up their game.”
“If Riverside would put this effort into attracting customers instead of fighting competitors, maybe they wouldn’t lose revenue,” said another.
