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Huge Turnout At Iowa Gambling License Hearing

Posted on May 5th, 2010

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The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission conducted a public hearing in Johnston Tuesday that was so well-attended by people who wanted to express their opinions on whether or not the panel should grant license requests to four new casinos in Fort Dodge, Lyon County, Ottumwa and Tama County.

Those who wanted to speak for or against the casinos were given three minutes each. There was no speaker for or against the proposed $120 million casino and golf resort project in Lyon County, which is to be located near the South Dakota border.

The proposed Tama County casino was opposed by the Meskwaki Indian tribe, represented by Tribal Council vice chairman John Papakee who said two casinos is too much for the county.

The tribe runs a large casino-hotel complex six miles west of Tama and Papakee said the tribe is currently the county’s largest employer, with 85 percent of their employees coming from outside the tribe. “We are all Iowans and we want what is fair and what is fair to the citizens of this state,” he said.

The Ottumwa casino license found opposition from casino officials representing Lakeside Casino in Osceola and Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington who said the Iowa gambling market cannot accommodate another casino in Ottumwa as the market is shrinking and Iowans are still feeling the effects of the economic crisis.

Those who were supportive of the Ottumwa casino project spoke saying it would help alleviate unemployment, provide stimulus for businesses and propel economic growth. The casino is also expected to draw gamblers from Missouri. They said that considering everything, the advantages of a new casino in Ottumwa would be a lot more than whatever detracting effect it may have on other casinos. The manager of the state-owned Honey Creek Resort said the resort would benefit from a new casino as it would give the guests a reason to extend their stay at the resort.

Speakers against a Fort Dodge casino said the Emmetsburg Wild Rose Casino would be severely affected by all four casinos, and especially by a Fort Dodge casino. It would cannibalize Emmetsburg’s gambling revenues, making it more difficult for the company to pay its debts. Other speakers said the state has enough casinos and should instead look at other opportunities for tax revenue aside from gambling. The public hearing is part of a process of considering the four casinos’ applications for licenses by the gaming commission, which will be finally decided on May 13.