Midwest

Cedar Rapids’ $275M Cedar Crossing Casino Sets Official Opening Date

Posted on: October 16, 2026, 05:09h.

Last updated on: October 19, 2026, 04:11h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will open Nov. 19 after completing construction on its $275 million development ahead of schedule
The property will feature 700 slots, 22 table games, a sportsbook, five dining and drinking venues, a 1,500-seat concert venue, and a STEM center
The casino plans to donate 8% of annual gaming revenue to charity, potentially generating more than $6 million annually for local causes

Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center in Iowa’s Cedar Rapids will open on Thursday, Nov. 19, just a week before the Thanksgiving and Black Friday holidays.

Cedar Rapids casino Iowa Linn County — A rendering of Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center. The $275 million casino is set to open on Nov. 19, 2026. (Image: Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center)

Los Angeles–based Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) announced that construction on its $275 million development was completed ahead of its original New Year’s Eve schedule.

Final preparations are now underway in Cedar Rapids, including the delivery of table games and interior finishing touches ahead of its soft opening on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Officials with Cedar Crossing Casino say the property will become a destination for entertainment, food and beverage, and even learning with the on-site STEM lab called the Compass Center.

It’s a dream come true. We want to be the fabric of Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids has been waiting for this for many years,” Cedar Crossing Casino General Manager Kim Pang said before the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on Thursday (Oct. 15).

When doors open, the casino floor will feature approximately 700 slot machines, 22 live dealer table games, and a retail sportsbook.

More Than a Casino

P2E executives have emphasized a commitment to local community partnership. To back that pledge, the casino agreed to allocate 8% of its annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) to local charitable causes—more than double Iowa’s 3% state mandate.

Those funds will flow directly through the Linn County Gaming Association, a nonprofit entity that will oversee and distribute the proceeds. Projections estimate the association will distribute more than $6 million annually to local charities and initiatives.

Cedar Crossing Casino’s STEM lab has its own entrance, allowing children and parents to bypass the gaming floor in accessing the Compass Center.

The 5,000-square-foot educational facility is debuting with “Astronaut,” an immersive, interactive, and hands-on exhibition that explores the physical and mental challenges involved in space exploration.

The Compass Center has not yet released ticket information. “Astronaut” will run through February 2027. The show is being presented by the Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.

On the dining side, Cedar Crossing Casino partnered with Iowa native and professional golfer Zach Johnson to launch a signature “relaxed” steakhouse named Clubhouse by Zach Johnson. It is one of five planned bars and dining concepts inside the complex.

For entertainment, the resort features The Event Center, a 1,500-seat live concert venue that has already announced upcoming dates for acts including Old Dominion, Carlos Mencia, Trace Adkins, Carrot Top, and Tyler Henry.

Peninsula Pacific’s Next Chapter

The Cedar Rapids project represents a major milestone in P2E’s renewed development strategy. In 2022, the firm sold the majority of its gaming assets to Churchill Downs Inc. in a $2.75 billion transaction.

That deal included Colonial Downs Racetrack in Virginia, six Rosie’s Gaming Emporium venues, The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries, del Lago Resort & Casino in New York, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa.

Following that sale, P2E retained and built out a fresh portfolio that includes Cedar Crossing Casino, Kansas Crossing Casino in Pittsburg, Kansas, and four gaming properties branded under the Revo name in New Hampshire.