By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
A long-time Iowa casino businessman has agreed to invest up to $35 million to the Hard Rock Casino project and this has some other operators saying that Hard Rock isn't playing by the rules.
"Once applications are due, the applications cannot be amended." That's a direct statement from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
The deadline was clear back on November 5th.
But 65 days later, Sioux City Entertainment, the company behind the proposed Hard Rock Casino filed a commitment letter announcing a $30-35 million investment to their project.
Sioux City Entertainment President Bill Warner said, "I think all we're doing is supplementing our application. I think we're well within the rules."
And the IRGC agrees, saying because it's not changing the size, location or scope of the project, the application is still valid.
But other operators think that's a bad gamble.
Lance Morgan and his corporation Ho-Chunk Inc. have invested up to $600,000 to submit their Warrior Casino and Hotel application on time.
Ho-Chunk has filed a formal complaint to the IRGC.
Lance Morgan said, "We took the deadline seriously. We had to work very hard to meet those deadlines. Had I known that I could send it in 2 months later, maybe I wouldn't have worked so hard last October."
And Penn National Gaming reps, who proposed 2 Hollywood Casino sites gave us this statement saying, "The RFP process, as outlined by the IRGC, stated that all completed applications be submitted by November 5, 2012 @ 2:00 pm. It is our understanding that the applications could not be amended after that time and date."
Brent Stevens, the investor who made the multi-million dollar deal with Hard Rock, has been in the news before.
He was one of the men accused of illegal campaign contributions to Chet Culver's campaign for Governor in 2010. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
