Iowa lawmakers to revisit casino moratorium 

Iowa lawmakers to revisit casino moratorium 

The Iowa casino moratorium legislation is expected to be brought up within the first few weeks of the 2025 session.

US.- The Iowa legislature will reconsider a proposed moratorium on new casinos in the state. Representative Bobby Kaufmann’s bill would block the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission from considering a casino licence application from Cedar Rapids and prevent new casino developments until 2029.

Last April, the Iowa House voted for the casino moratorium, but the proposal was not considered by the Iowa Senate. The state’s existing casinos support a moratorium.

Boyd Gaming, which owns and operates the Diamond Jo, said a Cedar Rapids casino would “have a negative impact on Dubuque and other markets.” A feasibility study commissioned by the state gaming agency reached a similar conclusion. On February 6, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled to vote on the $275m development.

See also: Iowa casinos and sportsbooks see revenue growth in November

Attempts to bring a casino to Cedar Rapids failed in 2014 and 2017. On both occasions, the IRGC said a new venue would take away from other nearby casinos (there are 19 licensed casinos in Iowa). Linn County voters approved a measure in 2021 that allows developers to seek a casino licence for the county in perpetuity.