Gaming Commission approves Isle of Capri for Boonville casino

Joe Stange

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 | 1:11 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Work will start Thursday on getting a Boonville site ready for an Isle of Capri casino.

The Missouri Gaming Commission today approved Isle of Capri casinos for a site on the Missouri River.

The vote transfers authority for the site to Isle of Capri, which recently acquired Davis Gaming, the previous license holder. Isle of Capri needed approval from the commission after acquiring Davis Gaming, which held the state's approval but had not started construction.

Boonville has been trying for seven years to get a casino built there, but several factors delayed construction, including the presence of a railroad spur and environmental concerns. The city has also spent money improving streets and schools, based on the casino becoming a reality.

"The biggest concern to me is that Boonville has the most at stake in this particular situation," said Commissioner Bob Smith before voting for the transfer.

Isle of Capri president Jack Gallaway said work will start Thursday on moving the railroad spur still obstructing the site. The company will also be working with the state Department of Natural Resources to make sure that ground contamination is minimal on the site.

"That's going to start right away," Gallaway said. Ground could be broken within five months, Gallaway said, with a possible Labor Day 2001 opening date.

When Isle of Capri does break ground, it will also hand over $1.3 million for further traffic improvements in downtown Boonville. Earlier this month, Boonville received $850,000 for other improvements after the city council accepted Isle of Capri's bid.

The Gaming Commission's vote was a defeat for Bill Grace, who owns casinos elsewhere in Missouri. Grace had been pushing a plan to build a casino directly across the river, in Howard County.

After the vote, Grace said the Boonville site is the worst he had seen in 10 years in the business.

When asked if he was being treated unfairly by the commission, he declined to comment.