- Book now at Ruthie's Steak & Seafood at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, IA. Open Google Maps. 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA.
- Riverside Casino & Golf Resort is ranked #14 among luxury hotels in Iowa by U.S. News & World Report. Check prices, photos and reviews.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort is in Riverside, Iowa and is open daily 24 hours. The casino's 51,793 square foot gaming space features 889 gaming machines and fifty-six table and poker games. The property has four restaurants and a hotel with 201 rooms.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA52327
Riverside Casino and Golf Resort has provided a conference line for the purposes of listening in to the Commission meeting as a courtesy for those that aren't attending the meeting in person. This conference line is not operated by Commission staff, and the Commission has no control over it's operation or availability. To join the meeting in listen-only capacity, use the following number and code:
1-866-453-5550
Pin Code: 1179109
1.APPROVE AGENDA
2.WELCOME – Dan Kehl, CEO, Elite Casino Resorts, LLC; Tom Basten, President, Washington County Riverboat Foundation
3.APPROVE MINUTES – From July 9, 2020 Commission Meeting
4.ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. September – No Meeting
B. October 15, 2020 -Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Sioux City (Submissions due by October 1, 2020)
5.IOC BLACK HAWK COUNTY, INC. d/b/a ISLE CASINO HOTEL WATERLOO -Advanced Deposit Sports Wagering Operator Agreement with TSG Interactive US Services Limited
6.IOWA WEST RACING ASSOCIATION D/B/A HORSESHOE CASINO-BLUFFS RUN GREYHOND PARK
A. Second Amendment to Pari-Mutuel Management Contract/Service Agreement – American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a William Hill Race and Sports Book for Simulcasting
B. Amended Application for a Pari-Mutuel License and Racetrack Enclosure Gambling License for January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020; Simulcasting Requested, No Live Racing Dates Requested
7.REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF REVISED SECURITY PLANS
A. Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, LLC
B. Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC
C. Diamond Jo, LLC
D. Diamond Jo Worth, LLC
E. Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd.
F. Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C
G. Wild Rose Jefferson, L.L.C.
H. Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Inc.
8.CLINTON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – Request for Guidance on Qualified Sponsoring Organization Term Limits
9.CONTRACT APPROVALS (OSV – OUT OF STATE VENDOR; RP – RELATED PARTY)
A. Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, LLC
1.Delphia Consulting, LLC – Upgrade to Current Payroll/Benefits System (OSV)
2.Elite Casino Resorts, LLC – Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
3.Mayo Clinic Rochester – Medical Health Plan Costs (OSV)
B. Rhythm City Casino, LLC
1.Elite Casino Resorts, LLC -Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
2.Lamar – Billboard Advertising
C. Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort, LLC
1.Cosand Construction Company, LLC – Hotel Addition: Finish Carpentry (OSV)
2.Elite Casino Resorts, LLC – Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
3.Marcus Lumber – Hotel Addition: Decking, Millwork, Mirrors, Countertops and Sills
4.Symetra Life Insurance Company – Insurance Premiums (OSV)
D. IOC Black Hawk County, Inc. – Stich Inc. d/b/a D & W Floor Covering – Carpet Vendor & Installer
E. Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd. – Crawford Company – Installation of New Grease Interceptors and Showroom AC
F. IOC Bettendorf, L.C.
1.Iowa Beverage Systems, Inc. – Beer Vendor
2.Cintas – Rental of Floor Mats, Hotel Linens, and Table Linens
G. SCE Partners, LLC
1.CSI LLC – Replacement of Networking Server and Firewall Hardware
2.Buzz Creative Group, LLC – Marketing Agency (RP)
H. Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC
1.OnMedia – Purchase of Advertising
2.Cintas Corporation – Purchase of Employee Uniforms
3.US Bank – Amendment to Credit Agreement
I. Harveys Iowa Management Company, LLC – Royal Buying Group (RBG) – Promotional Vendor (OSV)
J. Iowa West Racing Association d/b/a Horseshoe Casino – Royal Buying Group (RBG) – Promotional Vendor (OSV)
K. Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Inc.
1.AJR Equities – Promotional Items and Personal Protective Equipment
2.Armstrong Systems & Consulting – Prairie Gold Club Cards and Printers
3.Bankers Trust Company – Line of Credit
4.Central Iowa Mechanical – Plumbing and HVAC Contractor
5.Competitive Edge – Promotional and Advertising Items
6.Gitchi Gaming – Gaming Equipment (OSV)
7.Global Payments – Casino Guest Check Cashing/Guarantee Service (OSV)
8.Global Spectrum – Advertising Agreement – Wells Fargo Arena
9.NU Concepts (USA Entertainment) – Entertainment Booking Agency
10.REG Marketing (Keck Fuels) – Fuel Purchases
11.Rotellas Italian Bakery – Bread Products
12.Saga Communications (Des Moines Radio Group) – Radio Promotions and Advertising
13.Wood Roofing – Roofing Contractor
14.Ziegler, Inc. – Maintenance Equipment
10.HEARINGS
A. IOC Black Hawk County, Inc. – For a violation of Iowa Code §99F.9(5) (Minor)
B. Wild Rose Clinton, L.L.C. – For a violation of Iowa Code § 99F.4(22) (Self-Exclusion)
11.PUBLIC COMMENT
12.ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS – Approval of Regulatory Fees
13. ADJOURN
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) met at Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside, Iowa on August 27, 2020. Commission members present were Kris Kramer, Chair; PennieGonseth Cheers, Vice Chair; and members Lance Horbach and Daryl Olsen. Commissioner Julie Andres was absent.
APPROVE AGENDA: Chair Kramer called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM, and requested a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
WELCOME: Chair Kramer called on Dan Kehl, Chief Executive Officer of Elite Casino Resorts, LLC, who thanked the Commission for meeting at Riverside.
Mr. Kehl introduced Tom Basten, President of the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF). Mr. Basten advised WCRF has distributed almost $47 million in grants since 2006 with 25% of the grants distributed to organizations outside Washington County. He stated some WCRF board members recently traveled the area to view some of the projects made possible by grants. Mr. Basten stated WCRF matched funds with Elite Casino Resorts and the Kehl Family Foundation to provide $500,000 to help with derecho relief. The funds will be given to the American Red Cross of Eastern Iowa, United Way East Central Iowa, Salvation Army, Eastern Iowa; and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc.
APPROVE MINUTES: Chair Kramer moved to the approval of the minutes from the July 9, 2020 Commission meeting. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chair Kramer called on Brian Ohorilko, Administrator of IRGC, for announcements. Mr. Ohorilko advised there would be no Commission meeting in September. The next Commission meeting will be at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City on October 15th. Submissions are due in the Commission office by October 1, 2020.
Mr. Ohorilko recognized Scott Ditch and Susan Hansen, IRGC Gaming Representatives, assigned to the Riverside facility.
IOC BLACK HAWK COUNTY, INC. d/b/a ISLE CASINO HOTEL WATERLOO: Chad Moine, General Manager, presented an Advanced Deposit Sports Wagering Operator Agreement with TSG Interactive US Services Limited (TSG).
Chair Kramer asked when the facility anticipated TSG being launched. Mr. Moine advised it is tentatively scheduled for January 2021. The company is currently working on getting licensed and meeting the technology requirements.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the Advanced Deposit Sports Wagering Operator Agreement with TSG Interactive Services Limited as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IOWA WEST RACING ASSOCIATION d/b/a HORSESHOE CASINO-BLUFFS RUN GREYHOUND PARK:
Second Amendment to Pari-Mutuel Management Contract/Service Agreement: Nancy Ballenger, General Manager at IOC Bettendorf, advised American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a William Hill Race & Sports Book will run the simulcast operation and the sportsbook at Horseshoe Casino.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the Second Amendment to Pari-Mutuel Management Contract/Service Agreement as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Amended Application for a Pari-Mutuel License and Racetrack Enclosure Gambling License for January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020: Ms. Ballenger submitted an Amended License Renewal Application for calendar year 2020. She stated the only change from the original application was the replacement of Harveys BR Management Company, Inc. as the onsite manager/operator of the simulcast facility with American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a William Hi8ll Race Book.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the Amended Application for a Pari-Mutuel License and Racetrack Enclosure Gambling License as submitted by Horseshoe Casino. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF REVISED SECURITY PLANS:
Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, LLC: Paul Czak, General Manager, presented an amended security plan eliminating additional certified peace officer coverage due to significant operational changes and decreased business volumes due to the pandemic. He noted the facility has one or two calls per week, and the Council Bluffs Police Department response time is less than five minutes. Mr. Czak stated should the need arise for the additional coverage in the future, a revised security plan would be submitted for Commission approval.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the revised security plan for Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, LLC. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC: Rob Higgins, General Manager, presented the revised security plan, noting the requested change is due to a change in operating hours due to the pandemic.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the revised security plan for Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Diamond Jo, LLC: Ross Curnow, Legal Counsel, presented the revised security plan. He advised the changes were made due to decreased patronage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staffing levels are adequate to meet security needs.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the revised security plan for Diamond Jo, LLC. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Diamond Jo Worth, LLC: Mr. Curnow presented the revised security plan, advising the changes were made due to decreased patronage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a reduction in open turnstile entrances onto the casino floor.
Commissioner Horbach noted the facilities were making changes to the security plans for what is hopefully a short term problem and feels the Commission should monitor the situation at the properties.
Chair Kramer noted the Commission had concerns with the Diamond Jo Worth staffing changes, and didn't want the levels to always be at the lower end.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the revised security plan for Diamond Jo Worth, LLC. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd (DRA): JesúsAvilés, President of DRA, noted Q Casino has a longstanding relationship with the city of Dubuque police department. Policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and data gathered to ensure they are adapting to the needs of the business and the need for certified peace officers on property. During the most recent review of the security plan, based on historical data and response times, Q Casino is requesting that regular scheduling of peace officers be eliminated. Response time should a peace officer be required is approximately five minutes.
Chair Kramer stated the Commission was aware a change was made in June. She reminded him that changes needed to be submitted to Commission staff and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) office for review prior to implementation.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the revised security plan for the Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C.: Ms. Ballenger stated the revised security plan is being submitted after reviewing the business impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced casino occupancy and reduced operating hours for the casino. Additionally, operating hours and capacity for the restaurant have also been reduced. Reductions in security staff have been made to off-peak hours.
Commissioner Horbach noted the Off-Site Law Enforcement Responses to Property for CY19 table on Page 14 shows 19 responses for 'Information' and asked for additional clarification. Ms. Ballenger stated she would have to get the answer, which she would provide to Mr. Ohorilko for distribution to the Commission members.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the amended security plan for Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Wild Rose Jefferson, L.L.C.: Travis Dvorak, General Manager, noted Jefferson is a smaller community and the Greene County Sheriff's Department has a good response time. Additionally, the facility has reduced its operating hours and experienced a reduction in attendance due to the pandemic. He noted adjustments were made to the security plan to address concerns expressed by the DCI and IRGC Gaming Representative.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the amended security plan as submitted by Wild Rose Jefferson, L.L.C. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Inc. (PMR&C): Gary Palmer, General Manager, stated the facility has had two armed police officers on property since opening. Following the incident in Las Vegas a few years ago, Prairie Meadows developed a Rapid Response Team and hired fifteen officers who are trained and armed. Due to reduced attendance and operating hours related to the pandemic, the facility is requesting to scale back the use of officers from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Altoona Police Department.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the revised security plan as submitted by PMR&C. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
CLINTON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (CCDA): Les Shields, Vice President, noted the Commission sent a memo to all Qualified Sponsoring Organizations (QSO) in April 2015 identifying areas IRGC would like considered as part of the QSO governance in the future. One of the areas to be considered was term limits. Mr. Shields stated why term limits was an issue was never explained, noting the CCDA has never been sanctioned by IRGC. They are now faced with having to replace two long-term, committed volunteers. Mr. Shields stated they are not aware of any term limits in state government, or for those individuals appointed to various State boards and commissions. He noted those appointments are for a specific time, but are eligible for reappointment at the pleasure of the Governor with no restrictions on the number of such terms. He noted if there were term limits, several elected officials would have changed. Mr. Shields stated the only term limits in Iowa government are in a 'request to consider' from the IRGC on all Internal Revenue Service recognized not-for-profit QSO license holders. He noted CCDA has had a 34% change in the make-up of the board. Mr. Shields asked if the CCDA was still expected to remove board members from their volunteer service when there are no term limits in state government and no allegations of wrongdoing. He advised CCDA would have to reduce their financial contributions to disaster relief recovery efforts in order to spend thousands of dollars to pay for DCI background investigations.
David Sivright, Jr., Treasurer of CCDA, requested further guidance regarding 'elected officials' on the QSO board, noting the two ex-officio members required in the 2019 legislation are not counted in the maximum 20% of elected officials on the board. He stated CCDA believes the 2019 legislation was aimed at paid elected officials, not unpaid publicly elected officials. Mr. Sivright asked if all 'publicly elected' positions fall under the intent of IRGC guidance requesting that the QSO boards consist of no more than 20% of elected officials, or if it only excludes those individuals serving in a publicly elected position receiving more than a token salary.
Commissioner Horbach advised this is a new issue for him, but wanted to correct some statements made by Mr. Shields. He concurred there have been no allegations of wrongdoing and no issues with integrity. The matter is strictly a governance issue related to Best Practices. He noted CCDA's reluctance to actually adhere or even consider what was deemed in Iowa for non-profits.
With regard to non-profits, Commissioner Horbach stated he is unware of any non-profit other than CCDA that does not have a two, four or six year term limit on board members. The main concern of everyone on the Commission is the integrity of the industry, and perception can be an issue. There have been instances in other jurisdictions where longevity has come into play with funding trends. He stated the Commission was asking CCDA to consider a Best Practices in Governance. He noted elected officials have term limits and face re-election every two years. The majority of examples presented were elected officials; however, this issue relates to non-profit governance.
Mr. Shields thanked Commissioner Horbach for his comments but noted there is no limit on the number of times an elected official can be re-elected. Commissioner Horbach stated the conversation is not about political positions but non-profit disbursements of funds. He noted high integrity is required and must be maintained. He stated elected officials are in a different category than individuals serving on a non-profit board. He asked Mr. Shields why CCDA is refusing to comply with the Best Practices standards. Mr. Shields stated they are not refusing to do so as they are in the process of seeking new members, but were asking if it was still required as they will be losing two committed volunteers this round, and three more in the next round. He stated he has served on other non-profit boards, none of which had term limits.
Commissioner Olsen stated he has served on many non-profit boards, all of which did have term limits. He feels they are a positive as they bring in new thoughts and ideas, and a different point of view. He also stated that he did not see the comparison between elected officials and non-profit boards. Elected officials have to earn the right to be re-elected to their position whereas members of the community do not have the opportunity to vote on the members of the non-profit board. He asked if CCDA was asking if the 20% limitation on elected officials could be reduced, possibly making it easier to attract new members. Commissioner Olsen asked if CCDA was having a problem attracting new members or if it was just that current members would like to remain on the board.
Mr. Shields stated they announced in July they were faced with possibly having to replace two members. As of this date, they have not received any applications. He stated that a number of people who might serve on the board have been elected to serve on other unpaid volunteer boards. He asked for further clarification of the intent of the 2019 legislation regarding elected officials.
Chair Kramer thanked them for their comments and stated the Commission will take the matter under advisement.
CONTRACT APPROVALS (OSV - Out of State Vendor; RP = Related Party)
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, LLC: Dan Franz, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Delphia Consulting, LLC - Upgrade to Current Payroll/Benefits System (OSV)
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Mayo Clinic Rochester - Medical Health Plan Costs (OSV)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Rhythm City Casino, LLC: Mo Hyder, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Lamar – Billboard Advertising
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort, LLC: Sharon Haselhoff, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Cosand Construction Company, LLC - Hotel Addition: Finish Carpentry (OSV)
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Marcus Lumber - Hotel Addition: Decking, Millwork, Mirrors, Countertops ad Sills
- Symetra Life Insurance Company- Insurance Premiums (OSV)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IOC Black Hawk County, Inc.: Mr. Moine presented a contract with Stich Inc. d/b/a D & W Floor Covering for Carpet and installation.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd.: Brian Rakestraw, General Manager, presented a contract with Crawford Company for the installation of new grease interceptors and Showroom AC.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IOC Bettendorf, L.C.: Ms. Ballenger presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Iowa Beverage Systems, Inc. - Beer Vendor
- Cintas - Rental of Floor Mats, Hotel Linens, and Table Linens
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously
SCE Partners, LLC: Doug Fisher, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- CSI LLC - Replacement of Networking Server and Firewall Hardware
- Buzz Creative Group, LLC - Marketing Agency (RP)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC: Rob Higgins, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- OnMedia - Purchase of Advertising
- Cintas Corporation - Purchase of Employee Uniforms
- US Bank - Amendment to Credit Agreement
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Harveys Iowa Management Company, LLC: Ms. Ballenger presented a contract with Royal Buying Group (RBG) as a promotional vendor (OSV).
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Iowa West Racing Association d/b/a Horseshoe Casino: Ms. Ballenger presented a contract with Royal Buying Group (RBG) as a promotional vendor (OSV).
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Chair Kramer noted the Commission had concerns with the Diamond Jo Worth staffing changes, and didn't want the levels to always be at the lower end.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the revised security plan for Diamond Jo Worth, LLC. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd (DRA): JesúsAvilés, President of DRA, noted Q Casino has a longstanding relationship with the city of Dubuque police department. Policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and data gathered to ensure they are adapting to the needs of the business and the need for certified peace officers on property. During the most recent review of the security plan, based on historical data and response times, Q Casino is requesting that regular scheduling of peace officers be eliminated. Response time should a peace officer be required is approximately five minutes.
Chair Kramer stated the Commission was aware a change was made in June. She reminded him that changes needed to be submitted to Commission staff and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) office for review prior to implementation.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the revised security plan for the Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C.: Ms. Ballenger stated the revised security plan is being submitted after reviewing the business impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced casino occupancy and reduced operating hours for the casino. Additionally, operating hours and capacity for the restaurant have also been reduced. Reductions in security staff have been made to off-peak hours.
Commissioner Horbach noted the Off-Site Law Enforcement Responses to Property for CY19 table on Page 14 shows 19 responses for 'Information' and asked for additional clarification. Ms. Ballenger stated she would have to get the answer, which she would provide to Mr. Ohorilko for distribution to the Commission members.
Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the amended security plan for Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Wild Rose Jefferson, L.L.C.: Travis Dvorak, General Manager, noted Jefferson is a smaller community and the Greene County Sheriff's Department has a good response time. Additionally, the facility has reduced its operating hours and experienced a reduction in attendance due to the pandemic. He noted adjustments were made to the security plan to address concerns expressed by the DCI and IRGC Gaming Representative.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the amended security plan as submitted by Wild Rose Jefferson, L.L.C. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Inc. (PMR&C): Gary Palmer, General Manager, stated the facility has had two armed police officers on property since opening. Following the incident in Las Vegas a few years ago, Prairie Meadows developed a Rapid Response Team and hired fifteen officers who are trained and armed. Due to reduced attendance and operating hours related to the pandemic, the facility is requesting to scale back the use of officers from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Altoona Police Department.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the revised security plan as submitted by PMR&C. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
CLINTON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (CCDA): Les Shields, Vice President, noted the Commission sent a memo to all Qualified Sponsoring Organizations (QSO) in April 2015 identifying areas IRGC would like considered as part of the QSO governance in the future. One of the areas to be considered was term limits. Mr. Shields stated why term limits was an issue was never explained, noting the CCDA has never been sanctioned by IRGC. They are now faced with having to replace two long-term, committed volunteers. Mr. Shields stated they are not aware of any term limits in state government, or for those individuals appointed to various State boards and commissions. He noted those appointments are for a specific time, but are eligible for reappointment at the pleasure of the Governor with no restrictions on the number of such terms. He noted if there were term limits, several elected officials would have changed. Mr. Shields stated the only term limits in Iowa government are in a 'request to consider' from the IRGC on all Internal Revenue Service recognized not-for-profit QSO license holders. He noted CCDA has had a 34% change in the make-up of the board. Mr. Shields asked if the CCDA was still expected to remove board members from their volunteer service when there are no term limits in state government and no allegations of wrongdoing. He advised CCDA would have to reduce their financial contributions to disaster relief recovery efforts in order to spend thousands of dollars to pay for DCI background investigations.
David Sivright, Jr., Treasurer of CCDA, requested further guidance regarding 'elected officials' on the QSO board, noting the two ex-officio members required in the 2019 legislation are not counted in the maximum 20% of elected officials on the board. He stated CCDA believes the 2019 legislation was aimed at paid elected officials, not unpaid publicly elected officials. Mr. Sivright asked if all 'publicly elected' positions fall under the intent of IRGC guidance requesting that the QSO boards consist of no more than 20% of elected officials, or if it only excludes those individuals serving in a publicly elected position receiving more than a token salary.
Commissioner Horbach advised this is a new issue for him, but wanted to correct some statements made by Mr. Shields. He concurred there have been no allegations of wrongdoing and no issues with integrity. The matter is strictly a governance issue related to Best Practices. He noted CCDA's reluctance to actually adhere or even consider what was deemed in Iowa for non-profits.
With regard to non-profits, Commissioner Horbach stated he is unware of any non-profit other than CCDA that does not have a two, four or six year term limit on board members. The main concern of everyone on the Commission is the integrity of the industry, and perception can be an issue. There have been instances in other jurisdictions where longevity has come into play with funding trends. He stated the Commission was asking CCDA to consider a Best Practices in Governance. He noted elected officials have term limits and face re-election every two years. The majority of examples presented were elected officials; however, this issue relates to non-profit governance.
Mr. Shields thanked Commissioner Horbach for his comments but noted there is no limit on the number of times an elected official can be re-elected. Commissioner Horbach stated the conversation is not about political positions but non-profit disbursements of funds. He noted high integrity is required and must be maintained. He stated elected officials are in a different category than individuals serving on a non-profit board. He asked Mr. Shields why CCDA is refusing to comply with the Best Practices standards. Mr. Shields stated they are not refusing to do so as they are in the process of seeking new members, but were asking if it was still required as they will be losing two committed volunteers this round, and three more in the next round. He stated he has served on other non-profit boards, none of which had term limits.
Commissioner Olsen stated he has served on many non-profit boards, all of which did have term limits. He feels they are a positive as they bring in new thoughts and ideas, and a different point of view. He also stated that he did not see the comparison between elected officials and non-profit boards. Elected officials have to earn the right to be re-elected to their position whereas members of the community do not have the opportunity to vote on the members of the non-profit board. He asked if CCDA was asking if the 20% limitation on elected officials could be reduced, possibly making it easier to attract new members. Commissioner Olsen asked if CCDA was having a problem attracting new members or if it was just that current members would like to remain on the board.
Mr. Shields stated they announced in July they were faced with possibly having to replace two members. As of this date, they have not received any applications. He stated that a number of people who might serve on the board have been elected to serve on other unpaid volunteer boards. He asked for further clarification of the intent of the 2019 legislation regarding elected officials.
Chair Kramer thanked them for their comments and stated the Commission will take the matter under advisement.
CONTRACT APPROVALS (OSV - Out of State Vendor; RP = Related Party)
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, LLC: Dan Franz, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Delphia Consulting, LLC - Upgrade to Current Payroll/Benefits System (OSV)
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Mayo Clinic Rochester - Medical Health Plan Costs (OSV)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Rhythm City Casino, LLC: Mo Hyder, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Lamar – Billboard Advertising
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort, LLC: Sharon Haselhoff, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Cosand Construction Company, LLC - Hotel Addition: Finish Carpentry (OSV)
- Elite Casino Resorts, LLC - Goods and Services Cost Allocations (RP)
- Marcus Lumber - Hotel Addition: Decking, Millwork, Mirrors, Countertops ad Sills
- Symetra Life Insurance Company- Insurance Premiums (OSV)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IOC Black Hawk County, Inc.: Mr. Moine presented a contract with Stich Inc. d/b/a D & W Floor Covering for Carpet and installation.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd.: Brian Rakestraw, General Manager, presented a contract with Crawford Company for the installation of new grease interceptors and Showroom AC.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IOC Bettendorf, L.C.: Ms. Ballenger presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- Iowa Beverage Systems, Inc. - Beer Vendor
- Cintas - Rental of Floor Mats, Hotel Linens, and Table Linens
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously
SCE Partners, LLC: Doug Fisher, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- CSI LLC - Replacement of Networking Server and Firewall Hardware
- Buzz Creative Group, LLC - Marketing Agency (RP)
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Catfish Bend Casinos II, LLC: Rob Higgins, General Manager, presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- OnMedia - Purchase of Advertising
- Cintas Corporation - Purchase of Employee Uniforms
- US Bank - Amendment to Credit Agreement
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Harveys Iowa Management Company, LLC: Ms. Ballenger presented a contract with Royal Buying Group (RBG) as a promotional vendor (OSV).
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Iowa West Racing Association d/b/a Horseshoe Casino: Ms. Ballenger presented a contract with Royal Buying Group (RBG) as a promotional vendor (OSV).
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the contract as submitted. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Inc.: Mr. Palmer presented the following contracts for Commission approval:
- AJR Equities – Promotional Items and Personal Protective Equipment
- Armstrong Systems & Consulting – Prairie Gold Club Cards and Printers
- Bankers Trust Company – Line of Credit
- Central Iowa Mechanical – Plumbing and HVAC Contractor
- Competitive Edge – Promotional and Advertising Items
- Gitchi Gaming – Gaming Equipment (OSV)
- Global Payments – Casino Guest Check Cashing/Guarantee Service (OSV)
- Global Spectrum – Advertising Agreement – Wells Fargo Arena
- NU Concepts (USA Entertainment) – Entertainment Booking Agency
- REG Marketing (Keck Fuels) – Fuel Purchases
- Rotellas Italian Bakery – Bread Products
- Saga Communications (Des Moines Radio Group) – Radio Promotions and Advertising
- Wood Roofing – Roofing Contractor
- Ziegler, Inc. – Maintenance Equipment
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the contracts as submitted. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
HEARINGS
IOC Black Hawk County, Inc.: Mr. Ohorilko advised Commission staff and IOC Black Hawk County, Inc. have entered into a Stipulated Agreement for a violation of Iowa Code §99F.9(5). He stated an underage individual entered the gaming floor unchallenged twice on February 25th, was on the floor more than thirty minutes and gambled, which triggered the Commission referral. Mr. Ohorilko noted the individual attempted to gain access to the casino floor a third time; however, the security officer requested identification and correctly identified the individual as being underage and access to the gaming floor was denied. Additionally, IOC Black Hawk County, Inc. failed to notify the DCI of the incident until the following day even though DCI agents were on property at the time the individual was turned away. Mr. Ohorilko advised IOC Black Hawk County has agreed to an administrative penalty of $20,000.00.
Mr. Moine apologized for the incident and stated the security officer in charge had been terminated. A new security manager with a law enforcement background was been hired, the security manual has been updated and all security staff has been retrained.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers moved to approve the Stipulated Agreement with an administrative penalty of $20,000.00. Commissioner Horbach seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Wild Rose Clinton, L.L.C.: Mr. Ohorilko advised Commission staff and Wild Rose Clinton, L.L.C. had entered into a Stipulated Agreement for a violation of Iowa Code §99F.4(22) related to the self-exclusion process. On January 7, 2020, Wild Rose conducted an audit and discovered a form that had not been uploaded to the self-exclusion database within the seven day time frame. They did self-report the issue to the Commission. Mr. Ohorilko stated Wild Rose Clinton has agreed to an administrative penalty in an amount between $5,000 and $20,000. He noted this is the first incident in the last 365 days.
Steve Nauman, General Manager, stated the facility had changed their gaming system. The individual came in in 2017, however, they are unable to prove the email was sent to the Iowa Gaming Association to upload the self-exclusion form.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Horbach moved to approve the Stipulated Agreement with a $5,000 administrative penalty. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT/ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS: As there was no Public Comment, Chair Kramer called on Mr. Ohorilko for Administrative Business. He noted the regulatory fees approved at the June meeting were based on FY20 budgets as the Commission and DCI had not received their appropriations for FY21, which are set by the Legislature. Mr. Ohorilko advised both sets of regulatory fees were adjusted slightly to align with the respective appropriations, and have been provided to the industry. He requested approval of the revised regulatory fees for the Commission and DCI.
Hearing no comments or questions, Chair Kramer requested a motion. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the revised regulatory fees as submitted by the Commission and DCI. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
ADJOURN: Commissioner Horbach moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Gonseth Cheers seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Riverside Casino Iowa Facebook
This is a list of casinos in Iowa.
List of casinos[edit]
| Casino | City | County | State | District | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | Pottawattamie | Iowa | Riverboat | ||
| Argosy Casino Sioux City | Sioux City | Woodbury | Iowa | closed July 30, 2014 | ||
| Blackbird Bend Casino | Onawa | Monona | Iowa | Native American | ||
| Casino Queen Marquette | Marquette | Clayton | Iowa | |||
| Catfish Bend Casino | Burlington | Des Moines | Iowa | |||
| Diamond Jo Casino | Dubuque | Dubuque | Iowa | |||
| Diamond Jo Casino – Worth | Northwood | Worth | Iowa | |||
| Grand Falls Casino | Larchwood | Lyon | Iowa | east of Sioux Falls, SD[1] | ||
| Hard Rock Sioux City | Sioux City | Woodbury | Iowa | |||
| Harrah's Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | Pottawattamie | Iowa | |||
| Horseshoe Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | Pottawattamie | Iowa | |||
| Isle Casino Bettendorf | Bettendorf | Scott | Iowa | Land-based as of 2017 | ||
| Isle Casino Waterloo | Waterloo | Black Hawk | Iowa | |||
| Lakeside Hotel & Casino | Osceola | Clarke | Iowa | |||
| Meskwaki Casino | Tama | Tama | Iowa | Native American | ||
| Prairie Flower Casino[2] | Carter Lake | Pottawattamie | Iowa | Native American | ||
| Prairie Meadows | Altoona | Polk | Iowa | east of Des Moines | ||
| Q Casino | Dubuque | Dubuque | Iowa | |||
| Rhythm City Casino Resort | Davenport | Scott | Iowa | Land-based as of 2016 | ||
| Riverside Casino & Golf Resort | Riverside | Washington | Iowa | near Iowa City | ||
| Wild Rose Casino and Resort | Clinton | Clinton | Iowa | |||
| Wild Rose Casino and Resort | Emmetsburg | Palo Alto | Iowa | |||
| Wild Rose Casino and Resort | Jefferson | Greene | Iowa | |||
| WinnaVegas Casino Resort | Sloan | Woodbury | Iowa | Native American |
Riverside Casino In Iowa
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Grand Falls Casino opensArchived 2011-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^Margery A. Beck (March 3, 2019). 'Tribe fighting 2 states, city to keep new casino'. Santa Fe New Mexican. AP. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Casinos in Iowa. |
Riverside Casino Iowa Open Dates
