Senate Won’t Talk Casino Moratorium

by Brian Wilson
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A bill that would have imposed a five-year moratorium on new casinos in Iowa has been permanently tabled in the Iowa Senate. Senator Ken Rozenboom, chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, made the announcement late this afternoon.

The bill easily cleared the House last week, but Rozenboom says lawmakers have other issues to resolve and a casino moratorium will not be considered in the Senate this year.

Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, says he is no fan of gambling and his decision not to advance the legislation should not be interpreted as support for casino expansion.

Patty Koller is executive director of the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, the non-profit that holds the Riverside casino license. She spoke to lawmakers Tuesday.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell asked legislators to ignore the casino industry’s pressure and let the Racing and Gaming Commission decide if her city gets a casino license.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission rejected casino proposals for Cedar Rapids in 2014 and again 2017. Linn County voters approved another gambling referendum in 2021, setting the stage for this latest casino application.

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