• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Business / New Burlington casino opens to public

New Burlington casino opens to public

June 11, 2007 By admin

A new "Catfish Bend Casino" in Burlington is opening today.

Gary Hoyer, the operation’s CEO, says the corporation plunked about $50 million down for the new casino and surrounding facilities. The casino covers about 30,000 square feet and Hoyer says it features "the latest" in gaming technology.

"It’s a real homey, a real comfortable feeling facility that does not have a lot of gaudiness or flashiness," Hoyer says. "It’s just something unique to Iowa."

About 750 people are working today at "Catfish Bend" casinos in Burlington and Fort Madison, as well as the FunCity family entertainment venue linked to the properties. According to Hoyer, a new hotel, a new restaurant and a spa should open within the next four weeks in Burlington. Hoyer estimates about 900 will be employed in the two casinos and attached facilities once all venues are open.

Governor Culver just signed a bill into law that removes the stipulation that state-licensed casinos in Iowa must float on water. "The law changed a little late for us, so we do have the water feature," Hoyer says. "We are the moored-barge facility that was previously approved by the Gaming Commission."

The facility is one of 13 state-licensed casinos now operating in the state. Back in 1989, voters in the Burlington and Fort Madison areas approved having a casino in their counties. The first casino boat to operate in the two markets was called "The Emerald Lady" and it docked in both cites. In November of 1994, the "Catfish Bend Casino" began operating in Burlington and Fort Madison.

Today, there are permanent structures in both cities and both are "Catfish Bend" properties.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Business

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC