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The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, which met Thursday in Johnston, agreed to meet in March to discuss whether it should award additional casino licenses. The issue has become a topic in this fall's governor's race. In addition, two more counties have emerged as potential sites for new casinos.

Tama County officials this week accepted petitions with more than 1,000 signatures to place the issue of casino gambling on the Nov. 7 general election ballot as plans are discussed for a local, state-regulated casino, possibly on Tama's Cherry Lake, said Tama Mayor Chris Bearden. Buena Vista County supervisors last week approved similar plans for voters to consider a casino in the Storm Lake area.

"As a taxpayer, I just think we need to bring people to the area. We have a lot of things going on in Storm Lake, and a casino will enhance everything that is going on," said Cal Johnson of Storm Lake, a leader of pro-gambling forces.

Ottumwa officials, who had plans rejected by state regulators last year for a $40 million casino, said last month that they remain interested in reapplying for a casino license. They could be joined by applicants from Fort Dodge and other towns who were turned down last year.

State regulators last year awarded licenses for casinos that have since opened in Worth County, Emmetsburg and in Riverside, where a $140 million gambling complex opened Thursday night. A fourth new casino - a $118 million gambling project planned by the Isle of Capri Casinos - opens in April in Waterloo.

Chet Culver, the Democratic candidate for governor, has said Fort Dodge and Ottumwa should be the first cities to receive casino licenses if Iowa grants more licenses, although he added that he was not calling for a reopening of the license-granting process. Republican candidate Jim Nussle is opposed to expanding the state's gambling industry, but he would not try to shut down Iowa's existing casinos, a Nussle aide said Thursday.

The racing and gaming panel agreed Thursday to meet on March 1 at Terrible's Lakeside Casino in Osceola to discuss awarding more casino licenses. This will give regulators more time to study how some of the new casinos are performing financially and will give two newly appointed commissioners time to evaluate the issue, said Commissioner Gerald Bair of Ankeny.

Commission Chairwoman Kate Cutler of Council Bluffs said that if state regulators decide to accept additional license requests, she wouldn't expect any new applications to be filed until next spring at the earliest, possibly in May. No formal ban on submitting license applications will exist prior to May, she said. However, the commission wants to establish a timeframe so all community leaders can have the same expectations for consideration of their license requests, she said.

Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants, a Sioux City Republican, said this week that he would be surprised if state regulators approve more casino licenses, particularly following a heated debate last session that resulted in a legislative ban of the Iowa Lottery's TouchPlay gambling machines. He predicted some lawmakers will offer bills to block the issuance of more casino licenses during the session that convenes in January.

"I think we are sort of at the saturation level for gambling, but the locals will try for what they want to try, and that is why we have a racing and gaming commission," Rants said.

TWICE AS MUCH: Under a policy adopted about 10 years ago, state regulators have fined casinos $10,000 for incidents involving underage gambling. Officials said Thursday they were doubling the fines to reflect inflation and show resolve.

PAYING UP: Harrah's riverboat casino in Council Bluffs and the Argosy Casino in Sioux City each agreed Thursday to pay $10,000 for underage gambling incidents over the summer. Managers at both boats said they have taken steps to prevent recurrences.

Mary Chind
Des Moines Register