State gambling revenues reversed a downward trend in the most recent fiscal year that ended in June due in part to a new casino in Sioux City. Another new casino is open in Greene County near Jefferson, and State Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says while the casino will take some profit from existing casinos, but will also increase state revenues too. “The market studies had shown that Jefferson would generate anywhere between 30 and 40 million dollars, with five to 15 million of that in new revenue,” Ohorilko says.

The Wild Rose Resort and casino officially opens August first, but the casino allowed gamblers to start placing bets one week ago. Ohorilko says the so-called “soft” opening is legal. “Many facilities will do this, and the most important thing is that they are in compliance with all of the administrative rules and all of the gaming laws,” Ohorilko says, “and they are in compliance, they have demonstrated that to the commission and the D-C-I.”

He says opening slowly allows the casino to test everything. “It gives them an opportunity to kind of work out some of the kinks before their grand opening and get their staffing in place and really try to fine tune what they need for when they go live and all of their amenities are open,” Ohorilko explains. The casino has planned grand opening events for August 7th through the 9th.

(Radio Iowa)