The Casino Queen Marquette is selling its riverboat after 30 years in operation and transitioning to a land-based setting. The riverboat casino began operations in late 1994 and has housed all of the casino’s games since then.
“That was my very first day here,” said Robin Corbeil, who is currently the general manager of Casino Queen Marquette, in an interview with KCRG-TV9 News. “I started as a cashier so I’ve seen a lot of things happen here.”
Corbeil has been with the casino since day one, according to her biography. She’s lived in Marquette all her life and has witnessed the impact the casino has had on the region.
“When you look at just the downtown area, the renovations and stuff that have happened since I grew up here is just amazing. The town’s done a great job with the money they got from us. Just making this a better place for the residents, for the tourists, for the businesses,” Corbeil said.
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission granted Casino Queen Marquette permission to move the riverboat casino
The Casino Queen Marquette riverboat that Corbeil has worked on for most of her life is home to over 400 slot machines and other games.
“We cruised when we first opened every day and then we went to be a permanently moored vehicle so we didn’t have to cruise every day,” Corbeil said. “It will be sad because it’s been there for 30 years.”
The Queen Casino & Entertainment, which acquired Casino Queen Marquette in 2017, was granted permission by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) in January 2023 to move the riverboat casino, located at 100 Anti Monopoly St. along the banks of the Mississippi River, to land.
The commission approved the request during a hearing on Jan. 26, 2023.
“We’re pleased with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s decision to approve Casino Queen Marquette’s landside move,” said Terry Downey, president and CEO of The Queen Casino & Entertainment.
“Iowa was the first state to recognize riverboat casino gambling. … We plan to honor that history by continuing to provide best-in-class gaming and entertainment at Casino Queen Marquette. The landside move and planned expansion will allow us to provide exciting amenities for our players, the community and tourists visiting this beautiful area.”
On-land building broke ground on Tuesday
Construction crews broke ground Tuesday on a 12,000-foot addition to the current on-land building. When completed, the establishment will have over 400 slot machines, online betting, sports betting, and six live tables. Expansion will also include a grill and a coffee house featuring local restaurants.
After the Casino Queen moves onto land, the Lakeside Hotel Casino on West Lake in Osceola and the casino at Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs will be Iowa’s only remaining riverboat casinos.
“The plan is to be open the later half of next year,” Corbeil said.
Meanwhile, Marquette Mayor Brittany Hemmber has another plan in mind for the riverboat.
“Maybe turning it into an extended part of the riverfront park that’s down there. There was just a thought of maybe tourist boats using that as a docking spot,” said Hemmber.
Additionally, the mayor believes casino expansion will benefit the local economy.
“It has brought in a lot of different people from surrounding communities, generated revenue to keep the city going and keeping our ideas moving forward,” Hemmer added.
Iowa legalized riverboat gambling in 1991. At the time, bets could only be a maximum of $5 and gamblers’ losses were limited to $200 a session. The boats were required to go on excursions.
In 2004, the Iowa State Legislature voted to allow casinos to moor barges in man-made basins. This essentially eliminated the requirement that casinos had to be on boats.