Despite a deck stacked against them, Cedar Rapids casino backers refuse to fold.

Thus ends the obligatory gambling metaphor.

On [June 27], the Cedar Rapids City Council set a public hearing date for a deal that would allow the Cedar Rapids Development Group, also known as local casino investors, to lock up land on the northwest side near downtown for a future casino. They’ve proposed paying the city $155,000 for an option to buy the land by the end of 2025 and would pay another $55,000 to put a hold on the site through 2026.

At a minimum, the investors, should they get a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, would be expected to invest $150 million on a 125,000 square-foot casino, restaurants and other amenities and 1,500 parking spots.