Gambling news from http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/
JOHNSTON n Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission members said this morning that they plan to begin talks next March about the possibility of issuing new casino licenses.
This statement comes a little more than a year after the commission approved four new casino licenses n for Emmetsburg, Riverside, Waterloo and Worth County n bringing the number of state-licensed casinos to 17.
At the time of the approval, the commission denied licenses in three other cities, though commission members said they would revisit the issue of new licenses in 18 to 24 months.
"The discussion at the March meeting is not for the putting in of applications, it's for us as a commission, if front of all of you, having a discussion about where we think we want to go with this and what we think would be an appropriate timeline," said commission chairwoman Kate Cutler of Council Bluffs.
There is an impassioned debate in the state about whether the expansion of gambling has gone too far. The reopening of talks about casino licenses will be an opportunity for yet another battle between anti-gambling activists and those who believe casinos are a boon to local economies and a valuable source of state taxes.
Commissioner Gerald Bair of Ankeny said next March is a good time to begin because all of the new licensees from last year will be up and running, or close to it. The Waterloo casino is tentatively expected to open in April.
The applications rejected last year were in Fort Dodge, Franklin County and Ottumwa. Also rejected were three proposals in cities where competing proposals were approved, two in Waterloo and one in Emmetsburg.
This month, a Tama County group came forward with an idea for a state-licensed casino, which would be separate from the Casino on an Indian reservation in the county. Voters in the county will consider a referendum this November on whether to allow a new casino.
The gaming commission met this morning for one of its regular session. Today is also the grand opening of the casino in Riverside.
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