Linn County’s First Casino Sets November 19 Opening After Decade-Long Effort

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center will open November 19, six weeks ahead of its original schedule. The $275 million development will bring Linn County its first casino after more than a decade of unsuccessful licensing attempts.

Developer Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) confirmed the opening date on October 15, with a formal grand opening celebration scheduled for December 5. The announcement followed an Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meeting in Dubuque, where regulators approved additional agreements connected to the property, including sports wagering arrangements.

Related: Iowa Revisits Casino Moratorium amid Cedar Rapids Project

Cedar Crossing to Open with 700 Slots and 22 Table Games

Located at 777 Fourth St. NW near the Cedar River, Cedar Crossing will feature approximately 700 slot machines, 22 table games and a 1,500-seat entertainment venue. The development also includes restaurants, bars and facilities dedicated to arts, education and cultural programming.

The Compass Center will host interactive exhibits, beginning with a space exploration experience designed for children and families. Dining options include The Zach Johnson Clubhouse, a steakhouse inspired by the Iowa-born professional golfer, alongside additional restaurants throughout the property.

The November 19 opening will give visitors access to the casino before its larger December 5 celebration, which will feature a sold-out performance by country music group Old Dominion. Other scheduled performers include Foghat, Steve-O, Hinder, The Commodores and Trace Adkins.

General Manager Kim Pang said preparations were continuing, with dealer training underway and gaming machines scheduled for testing ahead of the opening. Sports betting kiosks are expected to become available on December 5 rather than during the initial November launch.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone on Nov. 19,” said Aaron Gomes, president and CEO of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, in the company’s opening announcement.

Casino Opening Follows More than a Decade of Delays

The opening marks the culmination of a lengthy effort to establish a casino in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission rejected previous proposals in 2014 and 2017, while another attempt was delayed by a two-year moratorium on new casino licences introduced in 2022.

State regulators finally approved the Cedar Crossing project in February 2025, granting licences to Cedar Rapids Development Group and the Linn County Gaming Association. Construction began shortly afterward, although the project also encountered legal challenges from Riverside Casino, an existing gambling property in eastern Iowa.

The original development schedule targeted December 31, 2026, but construction progressed faster than anticipated. In July, P2E announced that the property would open in mid-November, with the October 15 announcement establishing November 19 as the confirmed opening date.

The casino represents one of Iowa’s largest investments in a gaming property. Its approval followed regulatory assessments of the potential economic benefits and effects on existing casinos, including concerns about competition within the state’s established gambling market.

Casino Expected to Create 400 Jobs and Support Local Nonprofits

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment expects Cedar Crossing to support approximately 400 full-time jobs, with more than half of the positions already filled. Recruitment remains underway as the operator prepares to open its gaming, hospitality and entertainment facilities.

The development is projected to generate approximately $2 million annually in local property taxes. Casino developers have also committed 8% of annual net adjusted gross revenue to support nonprofit organizations through the Linn County Gaming Association.

Previous economic assessments have projected broader financial benefits from the development, including additional tourism spending and economic activity across Iowa. Those estimates remain forecasts, with the casino’s actual contribution dependent on visitor numbers, gaming revenue and operating performance after opening.

Preparations are now focused on completing equipment testing, employee training and final operational checks. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s October 15 meeting provided another regulatory milestone as the property approaches its first day of business.

Additional opening-day activities are expected to be announced before November 19. The December 5 grand opening will follow, marking the formal launch of Linn County’s first casino and the beginning of operations for a development that has been pursued for more than a decade.

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