(Waterloo)– The Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg no longer has to pretend to be a boat.
The casino opened last year under a provision of the state’s gambling laws that allowed casinos to be considered as “moored barges” if they were built over water instead of being riverboats on lakes or rivers.
State lawmakers decided the requirement wasn’t necessary and it was repealed effective July 1st.
During its meeting in Waterloo Wednesday, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission classified the casino as a “gambling structure” that can be drydocked.
The casino extends over part of a more than 12 acre pond built at the site.
Tom Timmons of Wild Rose Entertainment says the pond won’t be drained all the way, but enough so it doesn’t go under the casino.
(Story from the Associated Press.).
