It looks like Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center is finally getting its casino in 2026—because last week, a judge officially shut down Riverside Casino & Golf Resort’s attempt to block it.
The Iowa District Court tossed out the lawsuit filed by Riverside and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, which tried to poke holes in the $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center’s license.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell commented:
“Today’s ruling is a victory for the people of Cedar Rapids. Our residents knew exactly what they were voting for… we can move forward with confidence and unity toward the future Cedar Rapidians chose…
Cedar Crossing will create new revenue for the state and bring new visitors every year—a solid win for every Iowan.”
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) had already awarded that license to the Linn County Gaming Association back in February, but Riverside came in with legal objections the same day. Not that it changed much.
Riverside Casino cites 2021 Linn County referendum
So, what was the big hang-up in court? Well, Riverside Casino basically argued that the IRGC totally messed up the rules when they handed out that new casino license.
Cedar Crossing Casino Rendering
And how did they do that? Riverside said the specific wording on the ballot, which asked voters if the “operation of gambling games… may continue,” only applied if there was already a casino operating there.
Since Linn County had never actually had a legal casino before this new project, Riverside claimed that the entire 2021 vote was pointless and couldn’t be used to approve a brand-new casino.
Judge Michael Schilling wasn’t buying it. He ruled the challenge had no legs, especially since it hinged on questioning a 2021 Linn County referendum that had already cleared the way for slots, table games, and sports betting in the area.
“The court concludes that the decision to grant a gambling license for a Linn County casino … cannot be fairly characterized as an erroneous interpretation of law,” Schilling wrote.
Project back in full swing
Now that the legal drama is over, the project, which is under casino developer Cedar Rapids Development Group, a subdivision of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E), will commence in the second half of 2025.
But on the financial side of things, the casino could “cannibalize up to $28 million in revenue” from the other casinos in the Hawkeye State.
Nonetheless, when it opens its doors on New Year’s Eve 2026, the Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center is expected to create hundreds of local jobs and pump over $6 million annually into community organizations.
That’s not all. Once it’s up and running, this casino is expected to generate $108 million in total gaming revenue. That means $80.2 million in brand-new, taxable money for Iowa by 2029.
And what’s actually inside this new spot? The casino itself will feature:
- 700 slot machines
- 22 table games
- a sportsbook
Visitors can also look forward to three restaurants, a big 1,500-seat concert venue, an arts and cultural center, and even a separate STEM lab.
“This is going to be the best one yet. More amenities, more places to become a part of this community, and more places to be entertained. And we promise to make you very, very proud with this development,” P2E Chairman Brent Stevens said.
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