Lawmakers pass casino moratorium that would block new casinos for two years

DES MOINES, Iowa — Returning to work Monday, the Iowa Senate & House passed an amended gaming bill that would effectively block any new casinos from being built in Iowa for two years, starting June 1, 2022.

Cedar Rapids and Linn County officials had started work on bringing a new casino to the county last year, when voters approved a gambling referendum.

The amended bill passed in the Senate Monday afternoon and in the House hours layer. If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, it would block a potential casino in Cedar Rapids until at least June, 2024.

The new language added to HF 2497, says the number of total licenses the commission can issue should remain at 19 until 2024. It also states that any existing casinos can move locations or build new locations if they stay in the county.

Back in March, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission announced it would start accepting applications for a casino in Linn County. The commission rejected bids to bring a casino to Cedar Rapids in both 2014 and 2017.

Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell and other city officials believed the commission, which has all new members from the previous 2017 vote, would vote differently this time around.