Iowa: Bally's Marquette set to replace Casino Queen, resort transition from riverboat to land-based facility
The Casino Queen in Marquette, Iowa, is set to undergo a significant transformation as it prepares to close its doors and make way for a new, modern land-based casino facility, known as Bally's Marquette. This change is part of Bally's Corporation's expansion strategy, which aims to convert existing properties into land-based casinos under the Bally's brand.
For nearly three decades, the Casino Queen has been a staple in Marquette, having first opened its doors in December 1994. However, the time has come for a change, as the former Pink Elephant Restaurant will be incorporated into the new Bally's Marquette. The Casino Queen, as it currently exists, will soon cease operations.
The new Bally's Marquette casino is projected to create approximately 80 new jobs in the areas of Marquette, McGregor, and Prairie du Chien. The exact timeline for the construction and opening of the new land-based building was not specified in the article, but it is anticipated that the facility will open shortly, marking a significant step in Bally's expansion in the Midwest market.
Bally's Corporation, which acquired the Bally's brand rights from Caesars Entertainment in 2020, is pursuing this strategy to consolidate its presence and standardize its properties under the Bally's brand. The new Bally's Marquette casino is expected to cost approximately $21 million to construct, with Bally Company responsible for both the construction and operation of the new land-based building.
The new land-based building will replace the existing riverboat casino, offering a more modern gaming and entertainment experience for visitors in Marquette. The transition from the Casino Queen riverboat to a permanent land-based casino facility will bring a fresh, updated gaming venue under the Bally's brand to Marquette, Iowa.
Throughout its history, the Casino Queen has been known by various names, including the Miss Marquette. With the arrival of Bally's Marquette, a new era of gaming and entertainment is on the horizon for Marquette, Iowa.
- The Casino Queen, with its long history in Marquette, will be replaced by Bally's Marquette, a new land-based casino, offering a variety of casino-games such as slot machines, table games, and potentially even casino-personalities.
- While the existing Casino Queen has been a part of Marquette's casino-and-gambling culture for nearly three decades, the upcoming change will also see the incorporation of other gambling forms like lotteries and responsible gaming initiatives to provide a more comprehensive gaming experience.
- As Bally's Corporation expands its presence in the Midwest market with projects like Bally's Marquette, it sets the stage for influential casino-personalities to shape the casino-culture in the region, elevating the gaming landscape in cities like Marquette, Iowa.
