Bettendorf is making a push to move the Isle of Capri Casino to downtown Bettendorf.
Mayor Bob Gallagher says he has talked to downtown businesses about the proposal. Gallagher talked about the issue at a city budget meeting Monday. The push comes as Davenport tries to get a gaming license for a new land-based casino on the I-80 and I-280 corridor.
Gallagher says the city has long supported moving the casino to land. Bettendorf's City Attorney Greg Jager says its current agreement with the Isle of Capri would allow it to give tax incentives to the corporation to move it to land. Gallagher says the move would help the city revitalize the downtown area.
"We're hopeful that the Isle of Capri will bring a land based casino to Bettendorf," Gallagher said. "We have some different plans that we're talking about, and we've had some initial conversations in that area already."
Gallagher also says that the Isle of Capri Corporation will ultimately decide whether it moves the casino to land. The company says it is reviewing the issue but has made no further statement.
The city has not started formal negotiations with the Isle of Capri, and there's no word on when those talks will start. Bettendorf's next public budget meeting is February 25th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.