Cedar Crossing Casino Clears Final Hurdle in Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids is finally getting its long-awaited casino. After more than a decade of proposals, delays, and legal hurdles, the $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino is moving forward. With no further legal roadblocks, construction is now active, and the team behind the project is aiming for a New Year’s Eve 2026 opening.

Good to know

• Riverside Casino dropped its legal challenge, clearing the last obstacle.
• The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved the license back in February 2025.
• Cedar Crossing will give 8% of its gaming revenue to charities—the highest in the state.

The Cedar Rapids Development Group and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment are leading the effort to transform 25 acres of unused city-owned land just off I-380. That location has sat untouched since the flood of 2008. Now, the team plans to turn it into a major entertainment destination, featuring 700 slot machines, 22 table games, a sportsbook, and three restaurants. One of those restaurants, Clubhouse by Zach Johnson, adds a local sports connection to the space.

In addition to gaming and dining, the casino complex will also feature a 1,500-seat live entertainment venue, an arts and cultural hub, and a free-access STEM lab for Linn County students.

The project only got the green light after the state’s two-year ban on new casino licenses ended in mid-2024. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission followed up with a 4-1 vote in February 2025 to approve Cedar Crossing’s license. That move triggered legal pushback from Elite Casino Resorts, owners of Riverside Casino & Golf Resort located just 35 miles away.

Elite claimed the 2021 Linn County gaming referendum should not apply to new casinos and focused its argument on the wording of the ballot. The IRGC had already flagged Riverside as the most likely to lose revenue once Cedar Crossing opened.

However, in June 2025, Judge Michael Schilling ruled the referendum valid. Elite Casino Resorts did not appeal that decision.

That quiet end to the legal fight allowed the project to finally move forward. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell confirmed the development in a social media post: “Full steam ahead at Cedar Crossing Casino! With no appeal filed by Riverside, it’s official: we’re going vertical in Cedar Rapids.”

Construction crews are now active on the site, with major infrastructure expected to take shape over the coming months.

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