National Cattle Congress seeks state gaming license

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

WATERLOO, Iowa -- The National Cattle Congress wants state gaming regulators to issue it a license to resume dog racing at the now-closed Waterloo Greyhound Park.

NCC officials said the nonprofit group should be grandfathered in because it held a gambling license 11 years ago.

The NCC has filed a petition with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission last week asking the state to renew its license for the now-closed dog racing track.

"By virtue of the fact that petitioner (NCC) held a valid license to conduct pari-mutuel racing on Jan. 1, 1994, petitioner is 'grandfathered' into the issuance of a license to operate gambling games and/or pari-mutuel racing," NCC attorney Ken Nelson wrote in the petition.

State law changed in 1994 to allow slot machines at state-regulated dog and horse tracks which existed prior to Jan. 1, 1994, pending voter approval. Nelson said he believes such a vote may not be required under current state law.

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