Des Moines Considers Casino In City - 2004-02-06
Des Moines leaders are getting involved in the state's dispute over whether to expand gambling.

The Des Moines City Council agreed to send a lobbyist to the Statehouse and are looking at locations for a possible casino in the city.

The locations include the soon-to-be vacant Polk County Convention Complex and the Riverpoint area, south of downtown.

Just a few months ago, the councilors had said they were not interested in gambling in the area.
Read the full story at Iowa Channel.com

Tax Hike Fears Worry Gaming Industry - 2004-02-06
As state legislators make more zealous attempts to increase needed tax revenue, the casino industry is facing a growing threat of higher state gaming taxes
along with the newer, more intimidating prospect of state-owned casinos, a panel of gaming experts told a group of casino insiders and investors at a conference in Las Vegas Tuesday.

Spurred by political expediency and egged on by gambling opponents, lawmakers are increasingly calling for states to run casinos and generate higher taxes from them, Frank Fahrenkopf, chief executive of the American Gaming Association, said at the industry-sponsored American Gaming Summit.
Read the full story at GamblingMagazine.com