Iowa legalized riverboat casinos in 1991, making it the first state to have these types of gambling properties. The state has slowly amended its gambling laws to accommodate different things.
For instance, the laws required riverboat casinos to be on actual boats on the Mississippi River. The Legislature amended some laws in 2004, allowing these casinos to moor barges in man-made basins, eliminating the requirement to be on actual boats to operate.
Iowa later allowed riverboat casinos to move to land. The Hawkeye State originally had over a dozen riverboat casinos.
Most of these have moved to land, leaving three riverboat casinos. This number is set to go down after Casino Queen Marquette gained approval to move its operation ashore.
12 Million Dollars New Land-Based Casino
Casino Queen Marquette is currently anchored on the Mississippi River in Marquette. It recently applied to move to land and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has finally granted the casino permit to move to 100 Anti-Monopoly Street in Driftless Region.
Both the casino owner and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Administrator Brian Ohorilko confirmed the news. Brian told local media stations that Casino Queen was approved to move their operations to land, while Queen Casino & Entertainment confirmed the same through a news release.
The casino owner has released more information about the move, including spending around $12 million on the new casino. Queen Casino & Entertainment will add over 12,000 square feet of space to the existing dockside building. This will create a 17,000-square-foot casino floor that will house a couple of blackjack tables, over 400 slot machines, and other games.
Queen Casino will also have a restaurant and a sportsbook. The casino will also retain its address of 100 Anti-Monopoly Street because the new casino will connect with the existing barge riverboat.
Most riverboat casinos in Iowa have moved to land leaving Lakeside and Ameristar Casino as the only two casinos offering gambling services on boats. Yet, the mass exodus of riverboat casinos to land has not improved the gaming revenue the state generates.
The administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission had a simple explanation for this. Brian said that land-based casinos had more space than riverboat casinos. However,
This space is not only used to house gaming machines but other entertainment amenities too. According to Brian, casino clients not only spend their money at casinos but at non-gaming entertainment venues near the casino too.
IRGC Other Gaming Approvals
Moving Casino Queen Marquette ashore is not the only gaming approval the IRGC has made. According to the commission`s administrator, other gaming properties have to improve their services and facilities to be able to compete with other casinos in other states. This has encouraged more gaming approvals by the IRGC.
For instance, Q Casino was recently approved to renovate. Formerly known as Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino and Mystique, Q Casino is planning to spend $75 million to renovate and expand its services.
Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Saloon & Gambling Hall in Council Bluffs is also planning to spend $31 million to remodel. The casino is adding a Celebrity Chef Restaurant, renovating its hotel rooms, and adding a gaming space to improve guests’ experience at the facility.
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