Construction moves forward on Iowa’s Cedar Crossing Casino

Vertical construction is underway at the Cedar Crossing Casino site, located west of the Cedar River near downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following the project’s initial groundwork earlier this year.

Building activity began shortly after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) approved Linn County’s license application in February. Once completed, Cedar Crossing will become the 20th state-licensed casino in Iowa, with an official opening scheduled for December 31, 2026.

Recent progress was celebrated by Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell, who took to Facebook to share her excitement. "NYE 2026. Book it! This. Is. Happening", she posted, along with a picture showcasing work at the site.

The launch of a new casino comes as Iowa’s 19 operational casinos reported a decline in total annual revenue for the third consecutive fiscal year. According to the IRGC, state-regulated casinos generated $1.68 billion in gross revenue from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. That figure is down from $1.72 billion in fiscal year 2024.

Despite the recent decrease, the current total remains higher than the $1.46 billion reported in fiscal year 2019, which was the last full fiscal year before COVID-19-related disruptions.

Figures from the fiscal year 2025 reports exclude sports betting revenue, which continues to trend upward in the state. The IRGC reported over $240 million in sports wagering receipts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, along with $16.2 million in tax contributions to the state.

The total amount wagered on sports in Iowa over the 12-month period reached $2.85 billion, surpassing the previous year's record of $2.6 billion. Since sports betting was legalized in Iowa in August 2019, licensed operators have reported more than $894 million in cumulative receipts.

Cedar Crossing is being developed as a land-based casino offering a full suite of gaming operations regulated under Iowa’s casino licensing framework. The construction of the $275 million casino and entertainment complex by the Cedar River advanced after Riverside Casino declined to appeal a court ruling upholding IRGC’s February 2025 approval of the Cedar Crossing license by a 4-1 vote.