The “Iowans for Common Sense” group was recently created. They’ve launched a campaign to stop casino expansion in Iowa. This group has developed a petition that demands a moratorium on all new casino developments across the state. According to their information, 66% of Iowans oppose casino expansion.
One casino being watched closely is Cedar Crossing Casino at Cedar Rapids. In August, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission received an application for a gaming license from the Linn County Gaming Association and Pennsylvania Pacific Entertainment. On February 6, 2025, the commission will vote on the proposal.
Jonathan Swain is the president of the Cedar Rapids Development Group. He dismissed “Iowans for Common Sense” and criticized their poll for being run by someone with “personal connections to a major state competitor.” Swain states that “Iowans for Common Sense” is more worried about diminishing competition. Instead, he says that they could be reflecting on the views of Linn County residents.
A gambling moratorium just ended in the state
Back in 2017, lawmakers in Iowa were denied a proposal for a two-year pause on new gaming licenses. However, this proposal was implemented in 2022. That two-year moratorium just ended on July 1, 2024. Not long after the first gambling moratorium, state Representative Bobby Kaufmann announced his plans for a new casino moratorium bill in 2025.
Kaufmann attempted to extend the current moratorium at the end of the 2024 legislative session but failed. A strategy group conducted a study for Pennsylvania Pacific Entertainment. They found that the moratorium had a $28 million impact on existing casinos in Iowa. The state plans to conduct a market study by the end of December.
Cedar Rapids has had trouble in the state in the past
In 2014 and 2017, the state rejected two proposals to open a casino in Cedar Rapids. The same argument is happening now that Iowa lawmakers had with the state. They claim that a Cedar Rapids casino would reduce profits for casinos in Waterloo, Riverside, and Dubuque instead of generating new income. Cedar Rapids is the state’s second-most populated city. Despite the interest in creating a casino, “Iowans for Common Sense” could try and stop that from happening.
