Opposition to a proposed $275 million casino resort in Cedar Rapids has surfaced through a self-described grassroots coalition known as Iowans for Common Sense. This group claims that a majority of the public opposes the introduction of more casinos in Iowa.
Iowa’s legislative-mandated moratorium on new gaming licenses issued by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) expired on July 1, 2024. While efforts to reimplement a ban on new casinos are expected to reignite when the Iowa Legislature reconvenes for its 2025 session in January, a coalition of businesspeople in Cedar Rapids, in collaboration with a Los Angeles-based casino operator, is hastening to secure what would be the 20th state-issued casino license.
Iowans for Common Sense argues that the public is against further gambling expansion. The group recently launched a 30-second television advertisement featuring Iowans voicing their opposition to more casinos.
“I think we have plenty. We don’t need one on every street corner,” a man says in the campaign.
“I personally don’t think we need any more casinos,” adds a woman.
The coalition commissioned UpOne Insights, a Virginia-based polling and research firm, to assess public sentiment on expanding casino gambling in Iowa. The study concluded that although Iowans generally support casino gambling, they strongly oppose further industry expansion. Currently, Iowa hosts 19 commercial casinos and four tribal casinos.
UpOne reported that 66% of likely voters oppose additional casinos, with only 30% in support. All demographics, including Republicans, Democrats, independents, Trump voters, and Harris voters, oppose more casino licenses. Each demographic also supports state lawmakers implementing another moratorium on new casino concessions, according to the study.
“The message from Iowans is clear. People across the state value what our current casinos bring to their communities but do not support further expansion,” said Zachary Harnde, a spokesperson for Iowans for Common Sense.
Jonathan Swain, a longtime executive with Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E), the gaming and hospitality firm partnered with the Cedar Rapids Development Group (CRDG) on the Cedar Rapids casino bid, counters that the UpOne poll is flawed.
“This poll appears to be a thinly veiled attempt from a group more interested in eliminating potential competition than amplifying the voices of Linn County residents,” Swain told the Corridor Business Journal.
Dubbed Cedar Crossing Casino, P2E and CRDG’s proposal includes a casino floor with approximately 700 slots, 22 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. The facility would also feature a 1,500-seat concert hall, several restaurants and bars—one of which would be helmed by PGA Tour golfer and Iowa native Zach Johnson—and over 1,100 parking spaces.
The blueprint also includes a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) lab and a cultural arts center separate from the casino facility. The casino projects supporting over 500 full-time jobs, increasing Iowa’s annual gaming revenue by upwards of $80 million, and attracting over a million visitors to the city annually.
In August, the IRGC commissioned two studies to evaluate the Cedar Crossing Casino application, aiming to understand its feasibility and potential impact on the state’s existing casinos. The state gaming commission is expected to review these studies in January.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second most populated city, has been excluded from the state gaming industry for over a decade. Cedar Crossing’s charitable arm, the Linn County Gaming Association, has pledged to direct 8% of the casino’s gross gaming revenue to nonprofits, significantly higher than the state minimum requirement of 3%.
Although Iowans for Common Sense has not yet filed a campaign finance disclosure with the state, Swain suspects that the political campaign is being funded by Elite Casino Resorts and its Riverside Casino.
Patty Koller, executive director of the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, the charitable arm of the Riverside Casino, is quoted on the Iowans for Common Sense website.
“If Cedar Rapids is granted a license, it would harm surrounding casinos and the non-profits that rely on them. These non-profits have poured millions into the corridor, benefiting communities far beyond their borders. As an organization rooted in rural Iowa, we are proud to support our corridor and our rural neighbors, who would undoubtedly be impacted by this proposed development,” Koller said.
