Citing Culver campaign questions, casino backers urge vote delay

Gambling opponents want state regulators to delay a vote on new casino applications considering questions about $25,000 in campaign contributions from some Fort Dodge casino backers to Gov. Chet Culver.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is slated to make a decision on four applications on May 13.

Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming and three contributors to Culver's campaign are the focus of an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Peninsula, the three donors and Culver have all said they did nothing wrong. But gambling critic Tom Coates of Norwalk calls it a "big enough cloud."

Culver's campaign donated the $25,000 to charity after it became aware there were questions about the money.

-- Associated Press