This from the Associated Press-
CAPE GIRARDEAU (AP) — Voters in Cape Girardeau will be asked in
November if they want a floating casino docked along their southeast
Missouri riverfront.
One of Missouri’s 13 casino licenses is up for grabs with the
closing of the President in St. Louis, and two companies are pursuing
Cape Girardeau’s endorsement for a casino plan.
A group called Quality of Life in Cape Girardeau submitted a
petition with the signatures of 3,080 registered voters to force a vote
on the casino question, the Southeast Missourian reported. City Clerk
Gayle Conrad said Friday that was more than enough to put the issue on
the Nov. 2 ballot.
The measure asks if Cape Girardeau will “allow the licensing of excursion gambling boats in the city.”
City voters approved gambling in 1993, but no casino was opened.
The Missouri Gaming Commission is accepting applications for a
single available casino license. The applications are due by Sept. 1.
Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. and St. Louis Capital Partners LLC are both pursuing Cape Girardeau’s endorsement for a casino plan.
On Thursday, those companies and five others submitted economic
analyses of their proposed casinos to the state Gaming Commission.
