Photo courtesy of Elite Casinos

A motion for stay challenging the casino license for Linn County was denied by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The motion was filed on February 6th by the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. With a unanimous vote of 5-0, the stay was denied by the commission on Monday. 

According to the six-page motion for stay, Riverside Casino and WCRF have filed a petition for judicial review by the district court of the gaming license awarded for a casino in Cedar Rapids. Listed in the challenge as support for the motion is language related to a public referendum on a ballot measure in Linn County and studies of market saturation. 

In response a resistance to stay was filed by the Linn County Gaming Association, Inc. and Cedar Rapids Development Group. 

These steps were taken after the Iowa House approved legislation for a five-year moratorium on gambling licenses, but it was not voted upon by the Iowa Senate prior to the commission’s 4-1 vote approving the license.

KCII News will bring more information as it becomes official.