Members of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission heard mostly favorable comments Wednesday about a proposed new casino in Cedar Rapids, as well as some concerns from people affiliated with a group, Iowans for Common Sense, launched to oppose casino expansion in the state.
The IRGC meeting was held at the Kirkwood Center in Cedar Rapids, allowing members of the public and advocates to speak on the proposed Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center. The $275 million casino would be located in northwest Cedar Rapids.
Building a casino has been a longstanding discussion in the community: Cedar Rapids was denied permission to construct a casino by the IRGC in 2017, and the state Legislature went on to pass a two-year moratorium on new gaming licenses in 2022.