Worth County gambling proposal

The deadline has passed to submit paperwork for new gambling licenses with the Iowa racing and gaming commission. SIX NEWS FIRST reporter Brian Fancher has the details on a proposed plan for Worth County. It's big and it's designed to draw motorists from the interstate. The artist's rendering of what the proposed Diamond Jo Worth Casino may eventually look like shows it’s extensive. It would be constructed on this land located just north of the Top of Iowa Welcome Center and nearby Burger King/Cenex Convenience Store Complex. Plans call for a 45-million-dollar casino along with an attached 100-room hotel, gift shop and one-acre lake. Unlike in Minnesota, Worth County's non-profit development group would use up to six percent of the revenues to help schools and other economic development projects. Steve Miller said, "They're estimating that 70% of the people, visiting either by traveling down I-90 or I-35 or from Minnesota are going to make up the visitors, so a huge portion of the people that visit this will actually bring an influx of money from out of state in state." Miller believes something has got to be done to keep people from moving out of the area. "And if they entertainment, they like where they live, it's going to really increase the chances that people will stay in this area and possibly we can grow this area." The state Racing and Gaming Commission is not expected to make any decision on issuing new gambling licenses until at least late spring. - Brian Fancher