The future developers of a proposed casino project in Linn County, Iowa, anticipate applying for a license with the state gambling regulator once again. The latest push marks a years-long effort toward expanding land-based gambling.

Over the last decade, the Iowa gambling watchdog, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), declined two proposals calling for the development of a casino in Linn County. At the time, the regulator said that a new casino would have a detrimental effect on the existing brick-and-mortar venues, resulting in revenue cannibalization.

Although residents of Linn County voted in favor of casino gambling back in November 2021, the next year, lawmakers in the state passed a moratorium that effectively put new casinos on hold for two years.

In April, legislators held a meeting on the moratorium but did not extend its duration. Considering the moratorium is set to expire on June 30, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) and the Linn County Gaming Association (LCGA), two companies that would develop a casino if permitted, reaffirmed their intention to submit casino gaming license applications with the IRGC, as announced by Corridor Business Journal.

Earlier this year, LCGA’s president, Anne Parmley, revealed in an interview that it was exciting to see that Iowa lawmakers decided not to extend the moratorium from 2022 that put casino license applications on hold. “We still strongly believe that Linn County deserves the opportunity to build and operate a gaming operation,” she said at the time. Additionally, Parmley pointed out: “There’s a lot of momentum in Linn County, and we want to build on that.”

P2E Is Looking Forward to Delivering World-Class Gaming to Ceder Rapids

The proposed casino project in Linn County is called Cedar Crossing and it was initially announced in May 2022. If permitted, the project would involve an investment of $250 million, bringing world-class gambling, entertainment and dining to Cedar Rapids.

The proposed location for Cedar Crossing is a property on the west side of the Cedar River that was previously the home of Best Western Hotel and Cooper’s Mill restaurant. The development of the project would be completed under an exclusive memorandum of understanding between LCGA and the Cedar Rapids Development Group (CRDG).

This memorandum requires an investment of a minimum of $150 million, and the creation of a gaming floor that has a minimum of 125,000 square feet. Per the memorandum for understanding, the developers need to create a minimum of 1,500 parking spaces, as well as other amenities such as restaurants.

“The time is now for Cedar Crossing. Linn County residents have overwhelmingly passed two gaming referendums, and they have been patient.“

Jonathan Swain, board member at P2E

P2E’s board member, Jonathan Swain, said that the perfect time for the new project has come. He acknowledged the strong support of Linn County residents toward the project, pointing to their patience as well. “With the moratorium expiring soon, we look forward to bringing an unprecedented casino gaming and entertainment destination to Cedar Rapids,” added Swain.

As noted, the two-year moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month. This means that the gambling regulator is likely going to discuss the casino developers’ applications at its next meeting scheduled for July 8.

The post Iowa: Linn County Casino Developers Consider Reapplying for License appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Iowa is one of the US states that currently offers not only legal sports betting but casino gambling as well. The state currently offers legal retail and online betting on sports, as well as casino gambling via 19 brick-and-mortar casinos. The tax rate applicable for sports betting is set at 6.75% on sports betting revenue, while casinos that generate a minimum of $3 million in gross revenue pay a 22% tax rate on their gross gambling revenues.

Amid the growing competition from casinos in nearby states, lawmakers in Iowa are exploring options for the gradual reduction of the tax rate applicable for land-based casinos. One such effort is led by Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, who filed House Study Bill 719 earlier this month. The proposal, calls for a slight decrease in the rate applicable for casino operators.

Under House Study Bill 719, the 22% tax rate for land-based casinos will decrease by a percentage per fiscal year. This process, under the proposed bill, will continue through the fiscal 2027 year, when the tax rate for retail casinos will be reduced to 19% on gross gaming revenues. The aforementioned proposal comes at a time when the state Governor anticipates tax cuts on the income of Iowa residents.

Ultimately, the slight reduction in the taxes for casinos seeks to make them more competitive amid the growing competition from nearby states. For example, nearby casinos in Illinois and Nebraska may gain an advantage against Iowa and attract visitors considering their lower tax rate.

Casinos Provide Vital Economic Stimulus for Local Communities

Bloomingdale, who was recently quoted by Iowa Capital Dispatch, revealed that casinos across Iowa have helped local communities. This economic stimulus, she said, helped by providing vital resources. “Every fire department has a new fire truck, every church has a new roof, every cemetery has tombstones that have been fixed, on a paved road. So I look at the things that they’ve (casinos) done in our communities that, you know, if they have 1% more income, that money would go directly into our communities,” added Bloomingdale.

Additionally, she spoke about the importance of tax cuts, acknowledging that lawmakers are considering lower taxes for corporations and individuals but not casinos. “It just doesn’t seem fair,” Bloomingdale added, pointing out that if Iowa considers lowering taxes the state should “look at everyone.”

Bloomingdale’s proposal gained traction by securing approval from a House Ways and Means subcommittee on Monday.

The post Bill in Iowa Proposes Reduction of Tax Rate for Land-Based Casinos appeared first on Keno Wizard.

A few weeks after hitting the Pennsylvanian market, Fanatics Betting and Gaming launched its Fanatics Sportsbook in the state of Iowa. As a result, Iowan players and visitors will now be able to download the dedicated Fanatics Sportsbook app and place exciting wagers with the operator.

Iowa is notably the twelfth state where the Fanatics Sportsbook is now live. The operator’s launch in the state was made possible by its recent acquisition of PointsBet’s US business. All former PointsBet customers will be automatically migrated to the new Fanatics Sportsbook app. These accounts will get to keep their usernames, passwords, account balance, reward points and responsible gambling settings.

As a part of the transition from PointsBet, the sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington will turn undergo a name and management change. In addition, Fanatics will further enhance the retail betting experience by installing a number of Suzohapp self-service kiosks.

As a company that is firmly committed to offering gambling in a responsible way, Fanatics Betting and Gaming will provide its customers with access to a variety of tools they can use to manage the time and money they spend while interacting with the Fanatics Sportsbook.

Customers can also contact a 24/7 help center and speak with experienced agents.

Many Exciting Features Await Players

Fanatics Sportsbook listed a number of benefits that bettors will get if they choose to play with the operator. For starters, the company emphasized that its Fanatics Sportsbook app has been built with the mobile user in mind, providing mobile bettors with intuitive and easy-to-use experiences.

Furthermore, Fanatics Sportsbook is the only sportsbook to give its customers up to 5% of their bets back in FanCash. Players can then spend this digital currency on a variety of bonus bets or on Fanatics.com.

For reference, players can earn 5% FanCash on same-game parlay bets, 3% FanCash on parlay bets and 1% FanCash on straight bets and odds boosts.

Another perk of using the Fanatics Sportsbook is the Discover feed, which provides sports enthusiasts with all the information they care about. This includes marquee games, key stats and trending bets, among other information.

Finally, customers can enjoy the Fanatics Sportsbook’s industry-leading search functionality, which encompasses a variety of features, such as a search bar, recent searches, autocomplete, synonym/alias and deep linking.

In the meantime, Fanatics VIP president Michael Z. Hermalyn just filed a lawsuit against his former employer, DraftKings.

The post Fanatics Betting and Gaming Launches Fanatics Sportsbook in Iowa appeared first on Keno Wizard.

A 31-year-old East Moline woman, Missy Smith, found herself in custody following an incident at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf on Sunday afternoon. Smith faces charges of assault on persons in certain occupations, with additional charges related to possession of a controlled substance.

Woman’s Aggressive Outburst Leads to Assault on Emergency Personnel

The commotion began when casino security sought law enforcement assistance around 2:45 p.m. due to Smith’s refusal to vacate her hotel room, reported Our Quad Cities. Upon entering the room, officers noted the distinct aroma of burnt marijuana. Allegedly in plain view were marijuana, a grinder, and a multi-colored smoking device.

As the situation unfolded, Smith encountered hotel security in the hallway while Bettendorf Fire Department EMTs attempted to assess her condition. Witnesses claim she erupted into a fit of profanity-laden threats, physically assaulting the emergency medical staff with kicks and aggressive hand movements.

Law enforcement documents state that Smith, after being placed on a medical stretcher for transportation to the hospital, escalated the situation by kicking a paramedic multiple times. Shockingly, she then gathered a significant amount of saliva and forcefully spat it into the eye of a police officer.

To manage her aggressive behavior, officers resorted to using a law enforcement restraining tool called “The Wrap” and fitting Smith with a spit hood. Even with these measures in place, she allegedly continued to forcibly spit on the paramedic while inside the ambulance.

Legal Woes Mount for Smith as She Faces Drug Charges Alongside Assault Allegations

In addition to the assault charges, Smith faces a serious misdemeanor charge for the possession of a controlled substance – marijuana. Smith is currently held at the Scott County Jail, with bail set at $5,300. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 11 in Scott County Court.

Authorities have not disclosed whether Smith suffered from any medical conditions that may have contributed to her erratic behavior, leaving the motive behind her actions unclear. The casino and law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the incident.

In other news, a man identified as L.L.B., 48, has been sentenced to 24 to 60 months in prison for his involvement in a casino bar fight at the former Hard Rock Casino in Stateline, Nevada. The altercation, captured on CCTV, resulted in injuries to an unnamed woman, including a fractured upper jaw and the loss of two teeth. The incident occurred in November 2021, with the sentencing taking place recently, and details about the cause of the dispute and any injuries sustained by the attacker remain undisclosed.

The post Disorderly Iowa Woman Arrested After Spitting Incident at Bettendorf Casino appeared first on Keno Wizard.

A few days after expanding its roster of partners with Hard Rock Digital, Simplebet unveiled another partnership agreement, this time with ClutchBet, a mobile-first sportsbook. Under the agreement, Simplebet, a global specialist in micro-betting products and technology, will provide the operator with short-form wagering offerings.

The current deal is focused on Iowa and Colorado and will provide local players with access to Simplebet’s engaging micro-betting content across a vast range of popular sports.

The micro-betting products Simplebet offers allow punters to place wagers on the outcomes of small incidents during sports games. A single game can have hundreds of opportunities for micro-bets, which engages players by providing constant trills and new betting opportunities.

Micro-betting examples include moments, such as which team will score next or whether a specific player will get a hit in their next at-bat. Simplebet offers such products for leagues such as the NFL, NBA and the MLB, as well as for college football and college basketball. Its products are tested and proven to boost engagement for sportsbooks that wish to add exciting micro-bets to their libraries.

ClutchBet Is Happy to Enhance Its Library with Micro-Betting

By adopting Simplebet’s micro-bets, ClutchBet will get to provide its players with an unparalleled selection of sports betting opportunities. The addition of micro-bets, which are an increasingly popular form of wagering, reflects ClutchBet’s desire to keep things fresh and always offer best-in-class products.

ClutchBet prides itself on being a cutting-edge sportsbook developed using proprietary tech. The operator is focused on Iowa and Colorado, delivering impressive localized betting markets, products and odds to local players. In addition to that, the sportsbook has a white-labeled sportsbook solution that allows its partners to benefit from its tested technology.

Jake Francis, Clutchbet’s senior vice president of operations, commented on the agreement, emphasizing that his company desires to keep on delivering best-in-class betting to its customers. Because of that, he is excited to bring Simplebet’s thrilling micro-betting products to Iowans and Coloradoans.

ClutchBet is committed to delivering the most innovative betting experience, and we’re excited to offer ClutchBet players in Iowa and Colorado the opportunity to more deeply engage with their favorite teams and players both locally and worldwide.

Jake Francis, SVP of operations, Clutchbet

Meanwhile, Chris Bevilacqua, Simplebet’s chief executive officer, said that his company’s short-form content continues to disrupt the sector.

Our short-form betting products are redefining the digital sports experience and we’re thrilled to be partnering with ClutchBet to offer these engaging markets to their users.

Chris Bevilacqua, CEO, Simplebet

In April, Simplebet also partnered with Amelco, bringing more micro-betting content to US customers.

The post Simplebet Powers ClutchBet with Micro-Betting Products in Iowa and Colorado appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s latest press release revealed some of its plans regarding the new project, including its approximate location. Onboarding Caesars as a management partner will add much-needed expertise, while the Harrah’s brand will substantially bolster the new venue’s appeal. The partnership builds on Caesars Entertainment’s relationship with US tribes and should significantly benefit both parties.

Details about the New Project Are Still Scarce

Little is yet known regarding the Iowa Tribe’s newest integrated resort project. The initial press release places the venue somewhere off Interstate 44. Given the Iowa Tribe’s reservation boundaries, that would put the casino resort between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. While the tribe did not announce a start date for construction, Caesars’ involvement should significantly speed up the process.

The leading casino operator was a natural choice for the Iowa Tribe thanks to its history of successful partnerships with US tribes. Recently, the company expressed its intention to partner with tribes in Maine, hopefully overcoming the region’s inhospitable business environment. Compared to that, cooperating on a new integrated resort in a developed market should not pose a challenge.

Both Parties Were Excited to Bolster Oklahoma Gaming

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma currently runs two properties- Cimarron Casino and Ioway Casino. A new property under the Harrah’s brand should bring significant long-term returns, providing guests with a world-class experience. Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Perri Ahhaitty lauded the operator’s contributions to tribal gaming and expressed confidence in the new venue’s future success.

We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Caesars and the local community with the brand-new Harrah’s right here in Oklahoma.

Perri Ahhaitty, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman

If successful, the new casino will be a significant boon to the tribe, providing much-needed employment opportunities and bolstering the resources available to local communities. Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development Robert Livingston was proud to partner with the Iowa Tribe and help them achieve their objectives. The move should also be a significant boon to the operator, extending its reach into the Sooner State.

With properties throughout the Midwest, Harrah’s is the perfect brand fit for Oklahoma.

Robert Livingston, Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development

Such partnerships form the cornerstone of Caesars’ growth strategy. While such aggressive expansion has incurred substantial financial debt, the operator’s Q1 report indicates strong investment returns. The upcoming Harrah’s casino in Oklahoma should be no exception, building on the company’s success and strengthening its relationship with local tribes.

The post Caesars Invests in Tribes with New Iowa Tribe Partnership appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Two casinos in Iowa have been fined by the local regulator for breaching the state’s gambling regulations. The properties in question are Diamond Jo Worth Casino and Horseshoe Casino, Radio Iowa, a local news outlet, reported.

The first of the two properties, as noted by Brian Ohorilko, administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, was fined for allowing an underage player to gamble. The player remained unchallenged and played for two hours and a half, Ohorilko said.

The breach dates to May 2022 and was due to the security workers failing to request ID. Because of its incompliance, Diamond Jo Worth was forced to pay a fine of $20,000. This is the fine the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission typically hands when casinos breach this rule for the first time.

The second breach came from Horseshoe Casino which failed to properly help a person exclude themselves from gambling. The person came to the casino and played for some time before asking a security officer about self-exclusion schemes. Unfortunately, the casino did not have anyone to help the customer enroll in the statewide self-exclusion program at the time.

While the casino did what it could and redirected the player to another casino where they successfully excluded themselves, in doing so, it breached the local regulations. Since Horseshoe Casino was unable to help its player, it received a fine of $20,000. As per Iowan rules, each casino should have someone who can enroll a customer at their request.

An Online Sportsbook Was also Fined

The two casinos were not the only gambling entities that received a fine. The local gambling authority also slapped the online sportsbook Rush Street Interactive with a similar fine. According to the regulator, the sports betting brand allowed people to charge their accounts using their credit cards – something that is strictly forbidden in the state.

It was noted that the operator had accepted as many as 42 credit card transactions. In total, customers collectively added almost $10,000 into their accounts using credit cards. As a result of its violation, Rush Street Interactive had to pay a fine of $20,000.

While the problem here was due to the payments company working with Rush Street Interactive, the operator should have been more careful when implementing its payment solutions. Ohorilko noted that the payment provider’s other partners have also been fined for similar violations.

The post Iowa Regulator Slapped Local Operators with Fines over Various Violations appeared first on Keno Wizard.

From a peak of over a dozen riverboat casinos in Iowa, one of many final three floating playing homes shall be transferring to land quickly, leaving solely two riverboat casinos within the state.

Iowa Racing and Gaming Administrator Brian Ohorilko advised native media retailers that plans have been authorized Thursday for Marquette’s On line casino Queen to turn out to be a land-based operation.

Pari-mutuel canine monitor and horse racing have been approved in 1983, and the state lottery was created two years later. Riverboat playing was authorized by lawmakers in 1989. Racetracks started to supply slots in 1994, and the on line casino operations began transferring from water to land.

In April 1991 Dubuque’s Casino Belle grew to become the first riverboat on line casino in America and there have been ultimately as many as 69 floating casinos on rivers feeding the Atlantic Ocean. By 2004, riverboats have been allowed to function on moored barges somewhat than in open water. That improvement led to operators opening resorts and retail areas adjoining to the casinos. Iowa grew to become the eighth state by which BetMGM started to supply authorized on-line sports activities wagering in Could 2019.

Important New Funding

Talking in regards to the On line casino Queen, IRGA’s Ohorilko stated, “They’re proposing to speculate 12 million {dollars} right into a land-based facility that might join with their present barge space. They’d add a sportsbook and a brand new restaurant.

“With on line casino Queen transferring gaming to [a] land-based space that can go away simply Lakeside and Ameristar On line casino (Council Bluffs) because the two remaining gaming licenses that also have on line casino playing on a ship,” stated the administrator.

With the brand new on line casino connecting to the present barge space, it’s attainable that On line casino Queen might preserve its present handle of 100 Anti-Monopoly Street in Marquette.

With the sluggish however mass exodus of riverboat casinos to land, together with casinos in Sioux Metropolis and Davenport, Ohorilko says no enchancment in gaming income or footfall within the playing venues has been seen but. “The explanations for which can be quite simple — in that usually on a land base facility –, there may be more room to supply, not solely extra gaming however most significantly, extra non-gaming facilities,” for folks to spend their leisure funds on, Ohorilko says.

Extra Latest Gaming Fee Approvals

Latest regulatory approvals by the Racing and Gaming Fee embody a $31 million rework for Harvey’s in Council Bluffs that can embody a number of upgrades. “A brand new Movie star Chef Restaurant, a Man Fieri’s restaurant, renovation of all of their resort rooms, some extra house for gaming, simply to permit for a extra snug expertise for these visitors,” he says.

Q Casino in Dubuque was given approval for the primary section of a multi-million greenback renovation plan. Ohorilko says the revamp is required with the intention to correctly compete with close by gaming operations in different states.

“Nebraska has gaming, we’re beginning to see some building there, significantly within the Omaha market. And so, it’s actually vital for these Iowa amenities to place their finest foot ahead,” Ohorilko says.

Supply: Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa, Radio Iowa, January 27, 2023

The post Three riverboat casinos remain in Iowa, Casino Queen is moving to land appeared first on Keno Wizard.