was specifically prohibited from having any riverboats for 5 years, IIRC. Riverboat gambling came to be approved in about 1989, but Pott Co. Parimutual betting, along with horse and dog tracks, were approved by the IA Legis in about 1984. Icejammer wrote:The casinos thrive because of Omaha, but Omaha has little to do with their existance. So I think we can put this urban legend to rest. Just for comparison, Dubuque, same size as Council Bluffs, has 2 casinos, so I think we can state with a high degree of confidence that with or without Omaha, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission would have had no problem granting 2 or 3 licenses to entities in Council Bluffs. A few years ago the parimutual sites were allowed to add gaming tables (again largely because of pressure from Prairie Meadows officials). voters approved 2 riverboat licenses, the IA Legis was pressured to allow parimutual sites in the State to allow slot machines (largely because of the failed Prairie Meadows horse track). The casinos thrive because of Omaha, but Omaha has little to do with their existance.