Rival casino plan for central Missouri

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 9:40 a.m.

Davis Gaming had planned to open a casino on the city's riverfront, but recently sold its rights to the Isle of Capri. City officials have become upset that the Isle of Capri plans to change the planned riverboat theme of the casino to a Caribbean theme.

That prompted Bill Grace to ask the Missouri Gaming Commission to reconsider his bid to build a casino in Howard County, just across the river from Boonville. Grace submitted the idea to the agency three years ago.

The commission has given Grace a chance to present his project during its upcoming March meeting.

"It's wide open," Grace said of casino prospects around Boonville. "Davis Gaming hasn't done what they said they would do at all, so I don't understand why we wouldn't have a better chance than Davis for building there."

In 1997, competition to build a casino in the Boonville area was fierce. Grace proposed building a casino in the river bottom across from Boonville, while Davis Gaming proposed building the Victorian Star on the town's riverfront. The commission chose to begin the licensing process for Davis Gaming, which essentially knocked Grace's project out of the running.

Grace thinks his project will get popular support because he plans to pay the city $1 million every year from the casino's profits.

Grace also said his proposed casino will be about twice as large as the casino proposed by Isle of Capri.

Mel Fisher, the executive commissioner of the Gaming Commission, said Grace's presentation will determine if the commission considers licensing his project. The first step of the licensing process is a background check of the company. Davis Gaming has been investigated but has not yet received a license, Fisher said.

Isle of Capri met with the gaming commission Monday but mostly talked about purchasing a casino in Kansas City. Before the commission can consider a background check on the company, its plans must get city approval, he said.