Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino
Encyclopedia
Mystique, formerly Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino (DGPC), is a combination greyhound race track
and casino
(racino
) located in Dubuque, Iowa
. The casino is owned by the City of Dubuque, and operated by the non-profit Dubuque Racing Association, its license holder. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association, and shares a gaming license with the Diamond Jo Casino
, also in Dubuque. Beginning operations on June 1, 1985, the DGPC became a full-service casino following the introduction of table games in 2005.
Mystique is located at 1855 Greyhound Park Drive, on Chaplain Schmitt Island, near the Mississippi River
. The casino, along with attractions in the Port of Dubuque
and Downtown Dubuque, have helped to create a large and growing tourism market in Dubuque.
, keno
, and video poker
machines, and table games including Blackjack
, Craps
, Roulette
, Three-card poker, Four-card poker, Pai Gow poker
, Let it Ride
, Texas Hold 'em
and Ultimate Texas Hold 'em. The operation also has four restaurants--the Champagne Steakhouse, Bon Appetit Buffet, The Delicatessen in the greyhound track seating area, and Houlihan's
adjacent to the facility. Mystique features two entertainment venues--the Cabaret venue for national and 'tribute' musical performers plus the Bonkerz Comedy Club, and the Encore stage in the casino showcasing local musical acts every weekend.
passed the Pari-mutuel Wagering Act in 1984, with the hope of jumpstarting the state's economy. The bill permitted the opening of horse
and greyhound race track
s in Iowa. A group of Dubuque citizens, originally affiliated with the city's convention and visitors bureau, formed the indpenedent, non-profit
Dubuque Racing Association to study the feasibility of opening a race track in Dubuque. In April 1984, a 20-year, $7.9 million bond referendum was put before the voters, and passed with a solid 70% majority.
The following year, on June 1, 1985, the Dubuque Greyhound Park opened as Iowa's first pari-mutuel race track, and as the first non-profit greyhound race track in the nation. The operation was a resounding success, and the facility's bonds were paid off in May 1991, 14 years ahead of schedule. In 1994, the Iowa Legislature passed another bill, allowing for the installation of slot machines at land-based casinos in the state. The Dubuque operation did just that in November 1995, re-naming itself the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino.
In 2002, Dubuque County voters showed their satisfaction with the DGPC by voting to allow the continuation of gambling in Dubuque County, with over 80% in support. Iowa law requires that county voters re-approve gambling every 8 years.
In 2009, Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino was renamed Mystique. A $10 million renovation includes incorporating a French theme throughout the casino, as well as adding a new steakhouse, buffet, and entertainment area.
That same year, a 116-room Hilton Garden Inn
was built adjacent to the casino, along with a Houlihan's
Restaurant. The expanded facility has recently been recognized for its state-of-the-art air purification system, winning several national awards.
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
(racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
) located in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. The casino is owned by the City of Dubuque, and operated by the non-profit Dubuque Racing Association, its license holder. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association, and shares a gaming license with the Diamond Jo Casino
Diamond Jo Casino
The Diamond Jo Casino is a gambling casino and entertainment complex located in the Port of Dubuque, in Dubuque, Iowa. The casino is owned and operated by Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming, LLC, which also operates the Diamond Jo Casino - Worth in Northwood, Iowa, and gambling operations in Eunice,...
, also in Dubuque. Beginning operations on June 1, 1985, the DGPC became a full-service casino following the introduction of table games in 2005.
Mystique is located at 1855 Greyhound Park Drive, on Chaplain Schmitt Island, near the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The casino, along with attractions in the Port of Dubuque
Port of Dubuque
The Port of Dubuque is the section of downtown Dubuque, Iowa that lies immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River. The area was among the first areas settled in what would become the City of Dubuque, and the State of Iowa...
and Downtown Dubuque, have helped to create a large and growing tourism market in Dubuque.
Casino
Mystique is currently the larger of Dubuque's two casinos, with 29600 square feet (2,749.9 m²) of gaming space. It has 1,000 slotSlot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
, keno
Keno
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos, and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted...
, and video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
machines, and table games including Blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
, Craps
Craps
Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other or a bank...
, Roulette
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even....
, Three-card poker, Four-card poker, Pai Gow poker
Pai gow poker
Pai Gow poker is an Americanized version of Pai Gow . The games of Pai Gow poker and Super Pan-9 were created by Sam Torosian and Fred Wolf.The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, plus a single joker...
, Let it Ride
Let It Ride
Let It Ride is a casino variation of poker, where the player wagers on the five-card poker hand formed by their own three cards and two community cards. Let It Ride is played at a relaxed pace relative to other casino card games, which has made it attractive to older players and to table game...
, Texas Hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
and Ultimate Texas Hold 'em. The operation also has four restaurants--the Champagne Steakhouse, Bon Appetit Buffet, The Delicatessen in the greyhound track seating area, and Houlihan's
Houlihan's
Houlihan's is a Leawood, Kansas-based American contemporary restaurant chain. The first Houlihan's opened on April 1, 1972 on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, and is now in 21 states...
adjacent to the facility. Mystique features two entertainment venues--the Cabaret venue for national and 'tribute' musical performers plus the Bonkerz Comedy Club, and the Encore stage in the casino showcasing local musical acts every weekend.
History
With the onset of the "Farm Crisis," and a successive economic recession, the Iowa State LegislatureIowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
passed the Pari-mutuel Wagering Act in 1984, with the hope of jumpstarting the state's economy. The bill permitted the opening of horse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and greyhound race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
s in Iowa. A group of Dubuque citizens, originally affiliated with the city's convention and visitors bureau, formed the indpenedent, non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Dubuque Racing Association to study the feasibility of opening a race track in Dubuque. In April 1984, a 20-year, $7.9 million bond referendum was put before the voters, and passed with a solid 70% majority.
The following year, on June 1, 1985, the Dubuque Greyhound Park opened as Iowa's first pari-mutuel race track, and as the first non-profit greyhound race track in the nation. The operation was a resounding success, and the facility's bonds were paid off in May 1991, 14 years ahead of schedule. In 1994, the Iowa Legislature passed another bill, allowing for the installation of slot machines at land-based casinos in the state. The Dubuque operation did just that in November 1995, re-naming itself the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino.
In 2002, Dubuque County voters showed their satisfaction with the DGPC by voting to allow the continuation of gambling in Dubuque County, with over 80% in support. Iowa law requires that county voters re-approve gambling every 8 years.
In 2009, Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino was renamed Mystique. A $10 million renovation includes incorporating a French theme throughout the casino, as well as adding a new steakhouse, buffet, and entertainment area.
Expansion
On the eve of its 20th anniversary, in May 2005, the casino completed a $33 million expansion and renovation project, tripling the size of the gaming floor to 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²). The facility also became a full-service casino, by adding table games and a poker room for the first time. The expansion greatly increased the casino's market share, with attendance rising to over 1 million visitors in the following year.That same year, a 116-room Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is a chain of hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a key competitor...
was built adjacent to the casino, along with a Houlihan's
Houlihan's
Houlihan's is a Leawood, Kansas-based American contemporary restaurant chain. The first Houlihan's opened on April 1, 1972 on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, and is now in 21 states...
Restaurant. The expanded facility has recently been recognized for its state-of-the-art air purification system, winning several national awards.