CASINO FUTURE IN STATE HANDS

THE FUTURE OF THE ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO AND WHO WILL OVERSEE IT IS IN THE HANDS OF THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION.

THAT'S THE ASSESSMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHICH MET IN CLOSED SESSION MONDAY NIGHT.

PENN NATIONAL GAMING, WHICH OWNS THE ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO, ANNOUNCED LAST FRIDAY THAT IT WOULD ACCEPT MRHD'S PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE CURRENT OPERATING CONTRACT OF THE CASINO UNTIL MARCH OF 2015.

BUT THAT WAS ONE DAY AFTER THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING ASSOCIATION VOTED TO LET NEW NON-PROFIT GROUPS AND CASINO COMPANIES APPLY TO BUILD A NEW LAND BASED CASINO IN WOODBURY COUNTY. 

CHAIRMAN  MARK MONSON SAYS MRHD COULD NOT ACT ON PENN GAMING'S MOVE BECAUSE OF THURSDAY'S GAMING COMMISSION'S DECISION:

THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES JULY 7TH. THE GAMING COMMISSION SAID LAST WEEK THAT THE BOAT WOULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN.
  

MONSON SAYS MRHD REMAINS CONCERNED THAT THE 325 EMPLOYEES ON THE RIVERBOAT CASINO CONTINUE TO HAVE JOBS:

THE GAMING COMMISSION WILL NEXT MEET ON JULY 12TH. PREVIOUS TALKS WITH MRHD AND PENN GAMING WERE DEADLOCKED OVER A NEW LONG TERM DEAL TO BUILD A 100-MILLION DOLLAR NEW CASINO.