(Altoona, IA) -- Linn County residents could be playing slots and cards at a Cedar Rapids casino as soon as April of 2027.
The Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission approved a license for the Cedar Crossing Casino project at a meeting this morning in Altoona.
The vote passed 4-1.
The lone commissioner against the approval cited a 2021 referendum that opponents of the plan say misled Linn County residents into believing a casino already existed in the county, and therefore was invalid.
The remaining commissioners said they felt that after consulting with legal council, the commission was within their legal right to approve a license.
Opponents also cited studies that showed a Cedar Rapids casino would cut into revenues from surrounding gaming properties in Riverside, Waterloo and the Quad Cities.
Commissioners voting in favor appeared to downplay those concerns, noting the many benefits to the project outweighed the few negatives.
The development group has until October 31st, 2027 to complete construction on the entire project or face a fine. However, the gaming floor could be open as early as April 2027.
Photo Credit: Iowa's News Now
