Southeast Missouri Business NEWS & VIEWS...
NO GAMING FOR CAPE AREA...
During the mid 1990's two gaming corporations, The Boyd Group and Lady Luck were positioning themselves to be the very first gambling casino's on the mighty Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau. When proponents of gambling eventually convinced city voters to approve the measure, Cape officials elected to enter into agreements with the Boyd Group in 1993, Lady Luck turned their attention to the nearby city of Scott City.
Seven years have passed and no gambling boats have been seen in either location. The Boyd Group lost interest in the Cape project in 1998 when the state closed their gaming application. They have since put their acquired downtown and riverfront area properties on the market for sale.
Lady Luck who was eventually acquired by The Isle of Capri originally promised Scott City officials $301,228 more in property taxes in its first year of operation and 1,100 new jobs at a $63 million complex to include a riverboat casino visitor center and parking areas at Mississippi River Diversion Channel. City officials could foresee a major boom for their city and the entire region.
A combination of over saturation of gambling boats in the state and the lack of being able to obtain a state license from the Gaming Commission for either proposed project are cited as reasons why gambling has never come to the Cape Girardeau area.
Even though the Cape area has been bypassed, other areas have continued to construct new projects. The Isle of Capri, formerly Lady Luck who was Scott City's suitor is moving ahead with plans for Kansas City and Boonville, Missouri casinos. The company has also been recently selected to build a new casino just south of St. Louis in Jefferson County at Kimmswick. That operation should open sometime in July of 2001.
The company also owns and operates 13 riverboats, dockside and land-based casinos at twelve locations -- including gaming meccas Biloxi and Tunica, Miss., and Las Vegas.
To Contact Tom Kelsey: tom@tomkelsey.com
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