Davenport.

Mayor Mike Freemire and City Administrator Decker Ploehn said Friday it was too early in the process and there are too many details left unknown to predict the possible effect a land-based casino in downtown Davenport would have on Bettendorf, which is the home of the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel.

Freemire said his city has had discussions with the Isle of Capri about the company building a land-based casino in Bettendorf and those discussions have been “positive,” but there are no immediate plans.

The Davenport casino plan would include negotiating with the Isle of Capri, which also operates the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, to sell the casino operation to MSEG LLC, the development group Davenport is working with.

Davenport officials have in the past criticized the Isle of Capri for failing to follow through with plans to reinvest in the Davenport casino, including a $9 million renovation plan that was shelved by Isle of Capri last year. Casino officials cited a weakened economy and declining revenues as the reason for the delay.

Freemire said the city of Bettendorf has had a good working 

relationship with Isle of Capri and considers the company a valuable corporate citizen.

“Obviously, our experience is much more positive,” Freemire said.

Freemire said if Isle of Capri takes the money it planned to invest in Davenport and invests it in the Bettendorf casino instead, it could only benefit the community.

Terri Ping, president of the Scott County Regional Authority, which holds the license for the Isle of Capri Casino in Bettendorf, also said it was too soon to know what effect a Davenport downtown casino could have on the local gaming market.

“There’s a lot that has to happen,” she said.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF_D5cLSeEf2fn-QDtHHa9jjJAvEg&url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_1c85a18a-ea16-11df-bb38-001cc4c03286.html

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