HackMDClinton Casino looks west
Clinton's Mississippi Bell II casino plans to move operations from the downtown Mississippi River to a landlocked location on Clinton's western edge.
Mississippi Bell II Riverboat casino owners plan to expand their local gambling facility on Thursday, located on 65 to 70 acres (about 150,000 pyeong) west of Culver Restaurant, head of the facility Neal Natter said.
The $20 million casino, hotel, and restaurant project will bring a huge boost to the city's growing western business district. Architects are still working on the site design for the facility, which received preliminary approval from the Iowa Racing Gaming Commission in October, before the site was unveiled. Earth's migration from the site is expected to begin in a few months, Natter said.
"It took a lot longer than expected," he said.
State gaming commissioner Diane Hamilton said Clinton's initial plans for a new casino project included building a facility with artificial water flowing beneath it.
Changes to laws and regulations
This is consistent with recent changes in state law that allow casinos to move in navigable waters as long as their casino floors are above water and "reproduce boats or mooring barges that, as nearly as practicable as possible, resemble Iowa's river boat history."
"When the manager explained to us and showed us the picture, it seemed kind of cool," Hamilton said.
The initial design concept explained that the location of the project was 1,000 feet from the high water level marking of the Mississippi River.
Clinton Casino President Ken Bonnet has not been able to reach the Quad City Times but says he hopes to break ground on the project in the spring.
Casino management did not apply for city or province permission to start construction on the site, and it was not possible to determine whether the real estate purchase was confirmed.
The community has been swirling with speculation about the casino's future location. Many thought the operation might move along Main Avenue to the northern tip of the city, where the casino owns riverfront properties. Construction workers moved in this summer to clear out the former McEllie Motors car dealership site in the building and parking lot. The business has moved to new locations at U.S. 30 and 67. 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트
State Gaming Commission office staff said Clinton's west location was known when commissioners preliminarily approved the casino project. But commissioners have yet to determine how many land-based casino licenses will be handed out and whether they will include Clinton's proposal.
