 | The 25th anniversary of riverboat gaming will be here this spring as April 1, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Diamond Lady Casino and President Riverboat Casino in the Quad Cities in Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa. The launch of these riverboats sparked the introduction of regional gaming across the nation. |
The Quad Cities, known as the region where riverboat gaming was born, is now home to three casinos as Illinois quickly followed Iowa enacting gaming legislation. Today, three casinos operate in the Quad Cities including Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, Rhythm City Casino (Davenport) and Jumer’s Casino and Hotel (Rock Island, Illinois).
Regional gaming as an industry began on the Mississippi River. Today, the regional operators have become land-based operators. In 2008, Jumer’s Casino and Hotel moved off the riverfront to a new casino and hotel located at I-280 and HWY 92 in Rock Island. The facility includes 42,500 square-feet of gaming space, an event center, four eateries, salon and day spa, and a 205-room hotel.
The Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf is currently building a land-based casino which will include a 35,000 square foot gaming floor placed in the existing courtyard, between two existing hotel towers. Scheduled to open Spring/Summer 2016 the property includes three restaurants, over 500 hotel rooms and 40,000 square feet of convention space making the facility the largest casino hotel with on-site convention space in Iowa. The facility is located on I-74 at the foot of the bridge in downtown Bettendorf. (Picture attached.)
The Rhythm City Casino Resort will be moving in May 2016 from downtown Davenport to a brand-new casino and hotel resort at the corner of Interstates 80 and 74. The new facility includes four restaurants, a 1,500 seat entertainment venue, 106-room hotel, day spa, event center, and gaming at one of the 800 slot machines or 35 table games. (Picture attached.)
Statistics
The Quad Cities is located on the Mississippi River and is made up of the riverfront cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The area is just a 2-½ hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. It is easily accessible via I-80, I-74, I-88 and several major state highways.
Regional gaming as an industry began on the Mississippi River. Today, the regional operators have become land-based operators. In 2008, Jumer’s Casino and Hotel moved off the riverfront to a new casino and hotel located at I-280 and HWY 92 in Rock Island. The facility includes 42,500 square-feet of gaming space, an event center, four eateries, salon and day spa, and a 205-room hotel.
The Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf is currently building a land-based casino which will include a 35,000 square foot gaming floor placed in the existing courtyard, between two existing hotel towers. Scheduled to open Spring/Summer 2016 the property includes three restaurants, over 500 hotel rooms and 40,000 square feet of convention space making the facility the largest casino hotel with on-site convention space in Iowa. The facility is located on I-74 at the foot of the bridge in downtown Bettendorf. (Picture attached.)
The Rhythm City Casino Resort will be moving in May 2016 from downtown Davenport to a brand-new casino and hotel resort at the corner of Interstates 80 and 74. The new facility includes four restaurants, a 1,500 seat entertainment venue, 106-room hotel, day spa, event center, and gaming at one of the 800 slot machines or 35 table games. (Picture attached.)
Statistics
- Casinos in Iowa have had a $7.7 billion economic impact since 2008.
- In 2014, $54.7 million was distributed through grants from Iowa casinos.
- Since the inception of riverboat gambling in 1991, more than $132 million has been awarded through grants to Quad-Cities organizations from the two Iowa properties. (Iowa gaming regulations established non-profit license holders to distribute a portion of gaming funds to local charitable organizations.)
The Quad Cities is located on the Mississippi River and is made up of the riverfront cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The area is just a 2-½ hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. It is easily accessible via I-80, I-74, I-88 and several major state highways.
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