SIOUX CITY, IA -
The destiny of the Argosy Casino is still undecided. The argument between Missouri River Historical Development and Penn National has been going on for months now, and with just one month left on the contract, things are heating up.
Both Penn and MRHD went before Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission this morning to tell the state they haven't been able to reach a deal. MRHD wants 5 percent of the Argosy's profits, versus the 3 percent they are getting now, but Penn won't up the ante.
At Thursday's meeting state regulators made two decisions - to extend the Argosy's gaming license for another year, and to start accepting proposals for a land based casino from any interested organization. Both groups want to build a casino in downtown Sioux City, but can't agree on how much money MRHD should get.
This opens the door for Penn and MRHD to begin looking for new partners.
"We need to decide what we'll do after today's meeting... Personally I will recommend to the board, and hat they do with it they will, that we go out for an RFP request for a proposal and see what's out there and what our options are," said MRHD President Mark Monson.
Penn is already working with another non-profit called Friends of Woodbury County. We looked up their state records, it was founded last month by a lawyer in Des Moines.
The current contract to run the Argosy expires in July. If MRHD and Penn can't come up with a deal by then, the casino could pull anchor and more than 300 people could lose their jobs.
Stephanie Kotalik of Sioux City says with the economy, it would be terrible if that many people were out of work.
"It doesn't matter if you agree with going to a casino or not, it's just somebody's job is on the line, it's their way of, it's there income, it's the only way they can survive," she said.
Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott says that won't happen.
"We'll have a fall back plan, we're not gonna allow that to happen for very long, we'll make sure that problem is solved quickly," he said.
That's why the City plans to work closely with MRHD.
Scott says the non-profit Friends of Woodbury County have yet to talk with the City. He says right now they aren't interested until this group comes forward and gives a good argument about their organization.
Now that Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission opened up the bidding process for a land-based casino to any interested organization, these teammates could be betting against each other to make it to the main table downtown.
