The operator of the Argosy Riverboat casino in Sioux City is weighing its options after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission set July 1st as the date for the boat to shut down.
Mark Weindhardt is the attorney for Penn National Gaming, which operates the casino. Weinhardt says the employees are a key consideration. “We’re going to do the best that we can and work with the law and try to get them the best arrangement possible, try to get as much time as possible,” Weinhardt says. “Ultimately we believe that we should be licensed, we don’t think the Argosy should close — and that’s what we’re going to try to accomplish.”
Penn National would normally have 30 days to appeal the decision to close down the riverboat, but Wienhardt says things may go beyond that timeline. “Looking forward, we’re going to study our options and try to choose the best path. We have rights of judicial review we’re going to explore following that path,” Weinhardt says, “But I can assure you, Penn National is not done.”
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission decided to shut down the riverboat casino and replace it with a land-based casino. Penn National lost out in a bid to build the land-based casino. Work is underway in the downtown area of Sioux City on the new HardRock casino, which is expected to open sometime this summer.
(Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)