Missouri Riverboat Casinos in Iowa
Traveling through Nebraska, particularly along the western border near the city of Omaha, offers breathtaking views of the Missouri River. This waterway that has supplied water to several major cities and influenced many economic and social developments in this region. Across the river in Iowa, one notable aspect of visiting the bordering cities like Council Bluffs and Sioux City involves a walk along the majestic river to an amusement area filled with some exciting attractions and places to dine, but arguably these are not the key draw for many: the Missouri riverboat casinos.
The development of riverboat casinos along the Missouri River in Iowa is a direct result of the then Governor, Terry Branstad, who in 1991 signed a bill legalizing riverboat casinos across the state. The Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission was formed in 1985, but only allowed horse-racing and other off-track betting. The change in the law permitted Iowa cities to start issuing gaming licenses and constructing water-bound establishments.
Council Bluffs, located in western Iowa near the major city of Omaha in the state of Nebraska, and the northern Iowa town of Bettendorf were among the first cities across the state to capitalize on these chances. With an annual limit on the number of cities allowed to accept permits, with only an established quota of 4 total riverboat and land-based establishments, some additional and smaller Iowa cities near there – for instance like the cities of Sioux City and Davenport - soon joined these places that started accepting bets along the Iowa-Missouri river water-way soon thereafter.
In 2007-2008 and later in 2014 the Iowa Legislature and the Pella-based gaming interest lobbyists reformed the gambling laws to allow casinos to move onto dry land that must be in close proximity and still be located within the certain established distance away from the original river docking place. In response to challenges from neighboring states and keeping with long-standing customs the latest update also required that several percent of the establishment's overall revenue must be returned to a local body to be put towards economic development.
Today some of Council Bluffs' operating casinos include the Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs and Horseshoe Council Bluffs. However, nearby competition, notably in the established city of Omaha and an increase in Nebraska's local and state restrictions have diminished profits of these gaming centers in what some perceive to be down-trend – these neighboring business competition strains began before the 2020 economic restrictions from COVID-19 impacts came.
The major draw for Omaha, people that take casinos as a very key attraction on entertainment for all to place bets can often cross over from the Eastern end of Council Bluffs’ bridge going into the western tip of downtown Omaha the Eppley – those are very known big cross streets at Council Bluffs – but once the draw of Council Bluffs was identified, residents of Omaha helped build this as they sought for more destinations that could draw back to Omaha. As revenues began falling in late 2000s some new attractions like the Charles Schwab Stadium was proposed in an updated major upgrade which attracts new residents to drive up both car and coach bus traffic numbers the Missouri river casinos along Iowa and the economic region over has in been for over 27 years.
While the new shift appears to do wonders for casinos that could gain an edge on the upstart gaming scene with fresh revenues potential looming every years now on how both of the two largest river based establishments came, went of a story going back around a bit through there time periods, time and again not even come the head, an ambitious Iowa city. While in the best with Iowa and some neighboring cross-side potential gaming laws, may even the new Missouri city.
The development of riverboat casinos along the Missouri River in Iowa is a direct result of the then Governor, Terry Branstad, who in 1991 signed a bill legalizing riverboat casinos across the state. The Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission was formed in 1985, but only allowed horse-racing and other off-track betting. The change in the law permitted Iowa cities to start issuing gaming licenses and constructing water-bound establishments.
Council Bluffs, located in western Iowa near the major city of Omaha in the state of Nebraska, and the northern Iowa town of Bettendorf were among the first cities across the state to capitalize on these chances. With an annual limit on the number of cities allowed to accept permits, with only an established quota of 4 total riverboat and land-based establishments, some additional and smaller Iowa cities near there – for instance like the cities of Sioux City and Davenport - soon joined these places that started accepting bets along the Iowa-Missouri river water-way soon thereafter.
In 2007-2008 and later in 2014 the Iowa Legislature and the Pella-based gaming interest lobbyists reformed the gambling laws to allow casinos to move onto dry land that must be in close proximity and still be located within the certain established distance away from the original river docking place. In response to challenges from neighboring states and keeping with long-standing customs the latest update also required that several percent of the establishment's overall revenue must be returned to a local body to be put towards economic development.
Today some of Council Bluffs' operating casinos include the Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs and Horseshoe Council Bluffs. However, nearby competition, notably in the established city of Omaha and an increase in Nebraska's local and state restrictions have diminished profits of these gaming centers in what some perceive to be down-trend – these neighboring business competition strains began before the 2020 economic restrictions from COVID-19 impacts came.
The major draw for Omaha, people that take casinos as a very key attraction on entertainment for all to place bets can often cross over from the Eastern end of Council Bluffs’ bridge going into the western tip of downtown Omaha the Eppley – those are very known big cross streets at Council Bluffs – but once the draw of Council Bluffs was identified, residents of Omaha helped build this as they sought for more destinations that could draw back to Omaha. As revenues began falling in late 2000s some new attractions like the Charles Schwab Stadium was proposed in an updated major upgrade which attracts new residents to drive up both car and coach bus traffic numbers the Missouri river casinos along Iowa and the economic region over has in been for over 27 years.
While the new shift appears to do wonders for casinos that could gain an edge on the upstart gaming scene with fresh revenues potential looming every years now on how both of the two largest river based establishments came, went of a story going back around a bit through there time periods, time and again not even come the head, an ambitious Iowa city. While in the best with Iowa and some neighboring cross-side potential gaming laws, may even the new Missouri city.
