The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved on Thursday $6.5-million plan for the expansion of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, located in Sioux City. The casino was launched in 2014.
The expansion project includes the addition of 7,800 square feet of space at the gambling venue. Upon completion, the casino complex would feature a high-stakes gaming area with 60 slot machines and two blackjack tables, as well as a wine bar with 125 different labels and capacity for 600 bottles.
The expansion project was unanimously backed by racing and gaming officials at a Thursday presentation with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino executives. Commission Chairman Jeff Lamberti said during the meeting that they are happy to see the market growing.
The approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission was the last one needed in order for work on the expansion plan to commence. Todd Moyer, General Manager at the Sioux City-based casino, said that the City Council and the Sioux City Planning and Zoning Commission have already gave the green light to the project.
Construction work is expected to begin within the next 30 days. If everything goes as planned, it would take no more than six months for the plan to be materialized. In other words, the new gaming space would probably be completed sometime in February 2017. Yet, Mr. Moyer himself said that he could not commit to an actual opening date.
As mentioned above, the land-based Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened doors about two years ago. The venue acts as a replacement to the Sioux City Belle riverboat casino.
Of the venue’s performance, Mr. Moyer said that it has been doing very well and that residents and surrounding communities have welcomed its establishment. The official further pointed out that people from different parts of the nation have been visiting the complex to have a taste of what it is offering.
The gaming options at the complex are not the only offering to be attracting visitors’ attention. According to Mr. Moyer, their restaurant offering and other products have also been drawing customers from all around the US over the past two years. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino generated revenue of $83 million.
