No Additional Casino Gambling For Polk County, Iowa

Prairie Meadows already operates a successful casino in Polk County, Iowa. In recent weeks, they have explored the option of adding a second casino in the Des Moines area to ensure that they have a farther reach in the state.

On Wednesday, Prairie Meadows and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission both acknowledged that the plan for a second casino will not be moving forward. Ironically, both parties seem interested in the idea, but will not move forward without the blessing of the other.

"The commission is not in the position, nor is it our job, to encourage people to apply for licenses," said Commissioner Kate Cutler, "We are not going to be going out and doing any encouraging of additional applicants. It looks like that issue should be put to rest."

Prairie Meadows only started looking into a second casino when a state-ordered study showed that Iowa, and Polk County in particular, could handle another casino. Now, however, Prairie Meadows wants the casino initiated by the Commission.

Unless a second casino is proposed by the Racing Commission, Prairie Meadows will be content with expanding their gambling operation without having to build another casino. Officials for the casino believe that there are other ways to reach customers from around the state than building a second casino.

The state of Iowa may still receive additional casino gambling, it just may not be until 2012. Three counties, Warren, Dallas, and Madison will be allowed to ask voters again in November of 2012 whether or not they want to add casinos. Voters in the three counties all rejected gambling expansion back in 2004.

August 27, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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