Judge Rules in Favor of Cedar Rapids Casino, Expected to Open in 2026

The fight to bring a casino to Cedar Rapids, Iowa may have just finished the 12th round.

An Iowa judge ruled in favor of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) in a decision that opened the door to casino development in Linn County. This came in response to Riverside Casino & Golf Resort and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation filing a lawsuit that challenged the validity of the gaming license approved for the Linn County facility.

The IRGC awarded the license to the Linn County Gaming Association on Feb. 6, though progress was almost stymied due to the legal challenge submitted on the same day.

Getting back on track

Riverside Casino stood to lose $34 million in annual revenue if the Cedar Crossing went into operation, according to studies by Marquette Advisors. Furthermore, they argued that the gaming commission did not have the authority to award the license to Linn County. 

Despite the negative forecast, District Judge Michael J. Schilling said that the IRGC did not make “an erroneous interpretation of law” in awarding the operator’s license to the county.

Linn County Gaming Association President Anne Parmley said that the decision was the “best possible outcome” for the area. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, also a strong supporter of the casino, shared her sentiments.

The project is back in the hands of casino developer Cedar Rapids Development Group, a subdivision of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E).

“We’re full-speed ahead and from what I understand from P2E we’re still on schedule for New Year’s Eve, 2026,” Parmley said. “We felt that the argument we made on behalf of Linn County was strong, and the judge agreed.”

Developers committed a minimum of $50 million to the facility, which is expected to generate at least $2 million in local property taxes on top of its gaming revenue.

Iowa’s casino gaming scene

There are 19 state-licensed commercial casinos in Iowa. The Linn County facility will develop its commitment to the well-established retail gaming market.

Plans for the Cedar Crossing Casino call for 700 slot machines, 22 table games, a STEM lab for kids, a 1,500-person venue, and bars and restaurants.  

A commitment was also made to allocate eight percent of the casino’s adjusted net revenue to nonprofit organizations in the area.

“This is a huge opportunity for Cedar Rapids,” O’Donnell said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our community for sticking with it … and doing what’s best for our city.”

Although there isn’t currently a casino in Linn County, local voters approved legal gambling in 2013. They had a re-vote in 2021 to extend the provision, one that its legal challengers believed contained several deficiencies and should’ve disqualified the country from receiving its gaming license.

Disagreement arose over the ballot asking voters if legal gambling “should continue” despite it never getting off the ground. Riverside said that phrasing was enough to mislead voters.