A nonprofit group that jointly holds a casino license in Woodbury County will
join forces with a Las Vegas company to develop a $100 million Hard Rock-themed
casino and entertainment center in downtown Sioux City.
The project, called Hard Rock Casino Sioux City, would be developed by Sioux
City Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Gaming, which owns the Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and properties around the country. The deal is contingent upon the nonprofit group and Sioux City Entertainment
securing a gambling license.
Earlier this year, the state regulatory board decided to replace the Argosy
Sioux City riverboat casino docked on the Missouri River with a land-based
casino. The racing commission put Woodbury County’s license up for bid after
months of failed talks on a new long-term deal between Argosy’s owner, Penn
National Gaming Inc., and the nonprofit group. So far, no other bids for a land casino have been submitted. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled to award the license in April.
