Despite Linn County’s best efforts, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 4-1 to deny a casino facility in Cedar Rapids.

Guy Richardson with Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation says the primary reason for why the five-member Commission voted no for a gaming license to Linn County was because it would significantly take away business from surrounding casinos on the eastern side of the state.

He talks about Greene County’s situation and how he sees a casino positively effecting not only Greene County but surrounding counties.

“We feel like a license granted for Greene County is not going to significantly detract from any other casino in our area, not going to hurt any other casino economically and certainly the location is something that is a big plus for the state of Iowa and certainly a big plus for us in Greene County and the surrounding counties.”

Richardson states that the Commission pointed out that they were impressed by everything that Linn County had done up to their vote in Council Bluffs yesterday at AmeriStar Casino, but that they couldn’t allow a license for them due to the potential cannibalization from surrounding casinos.

He adds that they are still optimistic about the chances of Greene County’s proposed casino.

The decision on the casino for Greene County will be made by the Commission in Burlington on Thursday, June 12th.