KDSN RADIO News
Lawsuit challenging license for Cedar Rapids casino
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 to the wording in a recent gambling referendum that passed with 55 percent support. “We believe that the 2021 referendum simply asked Linn County voters the wrong question to support the issuance of a gaming license,” Weinhardt said.
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission chairman Daryl Olsen addressed the legal wrangling during yesterday’s (Thursday’s) commission meeting. “After consulting with our legal counsel and a representative from the (Iowa Attorney General’s office), a majority of the commissioners are satisfied that we have the authority to move forward and make this decision,” Olsen said.
Four of the five members of the commission then voted to grant a state casino license to Cedar Rapids yesterday. Weinhardt says the lawsuit seeks a ruling that would nullify that decision. “We’re also asking the courts to find, as we believe, that the cannibalization of other gaming properties by the proposed new casino is inconsistent with Iowa law,” Weinhardt said.
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.
Later this (Friday) morning at 11 a.m., a groundbreaking is scheduled in Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Crossing project. Developers say they hope to open the casino complex on New Year’s Eve 2026.
