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Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission is accepting applications for new gaming licenses. After appeals from five counties, the Commission says its willing to listen to their plans for new casinos. Voters in Lyon, Franklin, Webster, Tama, and Wappello counties have all passed referendums saying they'd like a casino in their area.
Several hundred people packed into the Commission's meeting in Altoona to hear the decision. People from Lyon county in far northwest Iowa dressed in green shirts to show their support for a new casino. They left at 1:30 Thursday morning in order to attend the meeting.
Representatives from several areas told the board that casinos would help them improve their unemployment rates. Meantime, the mayor of Fort Dodge says a casino is essential to a long-term development plan his community created. "The Fort Dodge and Webster County citizens have patiently waited since 2004 for this day, and I think they'll be happy to find out we're back in the game," said Mayor Terry Lutz.
Still, some people are concerned that adding more casinos would hurt business at the state's seventeen existing casinos. The Commission says it doesn't want to see any casinos close, so applications will have to be compelling and creative. "There's no guarantee for one or any or all. We know that going in, but I think they are being open minded," said Gayle Burnett, a representative from Franklin County, regarding the Commission's decision. Applications are due October 12th.
Several hundred people packed into the Commission's meeting in Altoona to hear the decision. People from Lyon county in far northwest Iowa dressed in green shirts to show their support for a new casino. They left at 1:30 Thursday morning in order to attend the meeting.
Representatives from several areas told the board that casinos would help them improve their unemployment rates. Meantime, the mayor of Fort Dodge says a casino is essential to a long-term development plan his community created. "The Fort Dodge and Webster County citizens have patiently waited since 2004 for this day, and I think they'll be happy to find out we're back in the game," said Mayor Terry Lutz.
Still, some people are concerned that adding more casinos would hurt business at the state's seventeen existing casinos. The Commission says it doesn't want to see any casinos close, so applications will have to be compelling and creative. "There's no guarantee for one or any or all. We know that going in, but I think they are being open minded," said Gayle Burnett, a representative from Franklin County, regarding the Commission's decision. Applications are due October 12th.
