Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has set a soft opening for November 19, with a grand opening to follow on December 5. Kim Pang, the casino’s general manager and executive vice president, announced the dates during an Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meeting in Dubuque, according to KCRG as cited by Yogonet. The property at 777 Fourth St. NW will have 700 slot machines, plus 22 table games and an entertainment venue seating 1,500. State regulators are currently inspecting the machines and security plans before the venue can open.
Opening dates and approvals
At the commission meeting, Pang said sports betting kiosks are scheduled to arrive in time for the December 5 grand opening. The soft opening is open to everyone, but those kiosks will not be available until the grand opening. Commission members approved the contracts and the sports wagering license, according to Yogonet. Pang called the milestone “a dream come true.”
Gaming floor and amenities
The casino will operate 700 slot machines and 22 table games. Its entertainment venue has 1,500 seats and already has concerts and events scheduled through the spring, Yogonet reported. Plans also call for several restaurants, an arts and culture center, and a STEM lab. Pang announced a steakhouse called The Zach Johnson Clubhouse that will offer the golfer’s menu from the 2008 Masters Champions Dinner. The property plans to hire roughly 350 staff, mostly from the local area. Pang said the team is working through checklists and expects “We will be ready with all amenities.” Seating installation is taking place in the entertainment venue, dealers are in training, and machine testing is planned for units already delivered.
Regulator inspections and security
Iowa Racing and Gaming Administrator Tina Eick said construction is mostly complete, and regulators are checking each slot machine that goes onto the floor. They are verifying that the software is approved and taping the inside of each machine so no changes can be made without commission review and approval. Eick also said staff are reviewing table game layouts and other final technical details to confirm compliance with Iowa laws and rules. The casino has formally submitted a security plan, and its security staff are being hired and trained, according to Radio Iowa.
Sports wagering and scam warning
With the sports wagering license approved, the casino will offer sports betting kiosks starting on December 5. Eick said someone is falsely claiming to run a Cedar Crossing online casino. She said online casino gaming is not legal in Iowa, and people should not give money or personal information to those scammers. The actual Cedar Crossing operators have posted information on their website to make clear that the online casino claim is not from them.
Long road to approval
Cedar Rapids voters approved a gaming measure in 2013 and reaffirmed it in 2021. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission denied license requests in 2014 and 2017 before approving one in February 2025. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort challenged the license over alleged deficiencies in the 2021 ballot measure, but a court later rejected that challenge. Backers broke ground in early 2025. A study last year projected a $2.25 billion statewide economic impact, according to Yogonet. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said it felt incredible when the project was allowed to proceed and credited community commitment for making it happen.
