The chances of a casino coming to Cedar Rapids, Ia. are looking slimmer by the day as state lawmakers have rushed to enact a new five-year moratorium on new gaming licenses that would run through June 30, 2030.
According to KCRG, on Jan. 30, the Iowa House passed the moratorium bill by a 68-31 vote as the state Senate advanced an identical bill the same day. The legislation would not only enact the license moratorium, it would also put new protocols in place for state regulators when considering new license proposals after the period ends.
Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) and the Linn County Gaming Association now seem to be on the verge of losing out on the chance to develop the $275 million Cedar Crossing casino development for the third time. The proposal has already been denied twice, in 2014 and 2017.
A previous two-year moratorium expired on July 1, 2024, allowing stakeholders another chance to ramp up their efforts once again. Ever since the last expiration, though, lawmakers have vowed to enact another one, which makes this latest development somewhat unsurprising.
Having already heard the formal pitch for Cedar Crossing, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) is currently set to make a licensing decision on Feb. 6. However, given how quickly the new moratorium is progressing, that hearing would appear to be moot.
