Lamberti: State getting close to 'critical mass' for casinos
JOHNSTON — The state may not be at “critical mass” for casino licenses, but it’s pretty close, the chairman of the state’s gaming regulatory board said.
Jeff Lamberti also said he’s watching what happens in Davenport “very closely” as the city makes moves to operate a casino there, but he doesn’t think other casino operators have to worry that the acrimony that erupted in Sioux City will spread to other casinos.
“That was just a very unique set of circumstances,” said Lamberti, a former state senator and attorney from Ankeny. “Licenses are privileges, they are not a right.”
Four partnerships are bidding for the Sioux City casino license held by Penn Gaming Co. which runs the Argosy Casino. The license was put up for bid after the nonprofit license holder pushed to replace the boat with a land-based casino.
Lamberti made his comments during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” show, which is scheduled for broadcast on Dec. 28 and Dec. 31. He was joined on the show by Wes Ehrecke, president of — and chief lobbyist for — the Iowa Gaming Association.
Iowa has 15 casinos, three race tracks and two Native American-run casinos. The 15 state casinos accounted for more than $1 billion in adjusted gross revenue in the 2012 fiscal year that ended this summer.
In Davenport, the city has proposed creating a city-appointed nonprofit board to run its casino, which would be a unique relationship for a city and gaming company in the state. Lamberti said he’s reserving judgment on the idea until he gets a specific proposal from the city, but he doesn’t like the idea of splitting casino operations between downtown Davenport and one near Interstate 80.
“I will tell you and I’ve told (city officials), I have some concerns about the location, because I believe an interstate location is the prime location there,” he said. “The difference is while we have to take into account what happens in the local community — that’s a big part of what we do — the commission represents the state of Iowa. We have to see what’s going on in the rest of the world, so to speak.”
Ehrecke said his clients also are watching what happens in Davenport with concern, especially if it leads to other municipalities wanting to take a larger role in their licenses.
“We’re certainly watching this with some interest, that whole idea of a municipality managing and running a casino, that would be unprecedented. It’s raised a lot of questions,” he said. “There’s a lot of unknowns right now. We just have members raising a lot of questions.”
He said the commission hasn’t taken a formal position on the situation in Davenport yet.
Ehrecke said casino operators also are watching whether the state will allow more licenses.
Cedar Rapids is the largest metropolitan area currently not served by a casino, but Linn County residents are set to vote on a May 7 referendum to gauge support for a Cedar Rapids casino. There also has been talk in other communities, such as Ankeny in Polk County, about possible gaming expansion.
Lamberti said “there is no moratorium” on licenses in the state and the commission will look at any proposal that comes before it. He did say, however, that the commission looks hard at if a new casino would eat into an existing customer base or draw in new customers.
“This is a pretty mature industry in Iowa,” he said.
http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/lamberti-state-getting-close-to-critical-mass-for-casinos/article_6bc37268-4bfd-11e2-9622-0019bb2963f4.html
Jeff Lamberti also said he’s watching what happens in Davenport “very closely” as the city makes moves to operate a casino there, but he doesn’t think other casino operators have to worry that the acrimony that erupted in Sioux City will spread to other casinos.
“That was just a very unique set of circumstances,” said Lamberti, a former state senator and attorney from Ankeny. “Licenses are privileges, they are not a right.”
Four partnerships are bidding for the Sioux City casino license held by Penn Gaming Co. which runs the Argosy Casino. The license was put up for bid after the nonprofit license holder pushed to replace the boat with a land-based casino.
Lamberti made his comments during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” show, which is scheduled for broadcast on Dec. 28 and Dec. 31. He was joined on the show by Wes Ehrecke, president of — and chief lobbyist for — the Iowa Gaming Association.
Iowa has 15 casinos, three race tracks and two Native American-run casinos. The 15 state casinos accounted for more than $1 billion in adjusted gross revenue in the 2012 fiscal year that ended this summer.
In Davenport, the city has proposed creating a city-appointed nonprofit board to run its casino, which would be a unique relationship for a city and gaming company in the state. Lamberti said he’s reserving judgment on the idea until he gets a specific proposal from the city, but he doesn’t like the idea of splitting casino operations between downtown Davenport and one near Interstate 80.
“I will tell you and I’ve told (city officials), I have some concerns about the location, because I believe an interstate location is the prime location there,” he said. “The difference is while we have to take into account what happens in the local community — that’s a big part of what we do — the commission represents the state of Iowa. We have to see what’s going on in the rest of the world, so to speak.”
Ehrecke said his clients also are watching what happens in Davenport with concern, especially if it leads to other municipalities wanting to take a larger role in their licenses.
“We’re certainly watching this with some interest, that whole idea of a municipality managing and running a casino, that would be unprecedented. It’s raised a lot of questions,” he said. “There’s a lot of unknowns right now. We just have members raising a lot of questions.”
He said the commission hasn’t taken a formal position on the situation in Davenport yet.
Ehrecke said casino operators also are watching whether the state will allow more licenses.
Cedar Rapids is the largest metropolitan area currently not served by a casino, but Linn County residents are set to vote on a May 7 referendum to gauge support for a Cedar Rapids casino. There also has been talk in other communities, such as Ankeny in Polk County, about possible gaming expansion.
Lamberti said “there is no moratorium” on licenses in the state and the commission will look at any proposal that comes before it. He did say, however, that the commission looks hard at if a new casino would eat into an existing customer base or draw in new customers.
“This is a pretty mature industry in Iowa,” he said.
http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/lamberti-state-getting-close-to-critical-mass-for-casinos/article_6bc37268-4bfd-11e2-9622-0019bb2963f4.html
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