IRGC HEARS CASINO PROPOSALS

THE DEVELOPERS AND GAMING COMPANIES COMPETING FOR THE RIGHT TO BUILD A LAND BASED GAMBLING CASINO IN WOODBURY COUNTY MADE THEIR PRESENTATIONS THURSDAY TO THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION.

HO-CHUNK C-E-O LANCE MORGAN BEGAN WITH THE WARRIOR CASINO AND HOTEL PRESENTATION TO THE I-R-G-C IN ALTOONA. MORGAN STRESSED THE WINNEBAGO BASED COMPANY'S LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND THAT 70 PER CENT OF CASINO PROFITS WOULD REMAIN IN SIOUXLAND, CREATING A HALF BILLION DOLLAR IMPACT IN THE CASINO'S FIRST FIVE YEARS:



BILL WARNER OF SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT HOPES TO BUILD A HARD ROCK CASINO AT THE BATTERY BUILDING SITE ON THE WEST END OF DOWNTOWN.
WARNER SAYS THE HARD ROCK BRAND WOULD CREATE A TOURIST DESTINATION ATTRACTING VISITORS TO SIOUX CITY:



THE HARD ROCK WOULD PARTNER WITH THE NEARBY STONY CREEK INN  INSTEAD OF BUILDING A NEW HOTEL AT THEIR FACILITY. PENN NATIONAL GAMING PRESENTED TWO PROPOSALS, ONE DOWNTOWN ON GORDON DRIVE AND ONE SOUTH OF TOWN NEAR SALIX AND THE PORT NEAL AREA.

KELLY CONNOLLY OF THE GREATER SIOUXLAND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE NON-PROFIT PARTERING WITH PENN, TOLD COMMISSIONERS THAT PENN'S PROPOSAL OFFERED THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS:



A PENN OFFICIAL ALSO CHIDED THE COMMISSION DURING HIS REMARKS, SAYING THE COMPANY HADN'T COUNTED ON LOSING THE SIOUX CITY MARKET FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN MALFEASANCE, POOR PERFORMANCE OR BAD FAITH.

PENN HAS OPERATED THE ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO IN SIOUX CITY SINCE 2005.

THE I-R-G-C WILL VISIT THE FOUR LOCAL SITES ON MARCH 26TH AND ALSO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSALS IN SIOUX CITY THAT DAY.

Thanks to Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa for her assistance on this story.