The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 3-2 today to grant a casino license for a $40 million project near Jefferson (Greene County) in western Iowa, between Boone and Carroll counties. Residents had overwhelmingly approved a gambling referendum last year, but the outcome was in doubt because the commission recently voted down a casino proposal for Cedar Rapids. According to Dar Danielson's report for Radio Iowa, the commissioners who opposed the license cited evidence a new casino would largely take business from existing Iowa casinos, and that the Greene County community didn't need a gambling facility as much as other amenities. The commissioners who favored the license cited the potential economic impact for a rural area.
The Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Polk County had lobbied the commission to reject Greene County's application, citing potential impact on its business. Jefferson is a little more than an hour's drive northwest of the Des Moines metro area. But in casting the decisive yes vote, Racing and Gaming Commission Chair Jeff Lamberti noted,
We have lots of advantages in Polk County and I think we have lots of advantages that are going to come in the future," Lamberti explained. "We've got significant population growth amongst all of our suburbs. We've got some good things that are in the work that are pretty historic by Iowa standards. And quite frankly, we have advantages that a lot of other parts of the state don't have, and quite frankly I think we are going to be just fine."
Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett, who has vowed to keep working toward a casino for his city, sounds furious about today's decision. I've posted some of his comments below.
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