The Casino Queen Marquette in Iowa is preparing to undergo a name change and physical relocation as it transitions from its longtime riverboat setup to a permanent landside facility under the new name Bally’s Marquette. The rebranding coincides with the nearing completion of a more than $21 million construction project expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
Subject to weather conditions, the first floor is slated to open to the public by the end of February, with the second floor expected to follow a week later. A grand opening is planned for March.
Vice President and General Manager Robin Corbeil, who was among the first employees hired when the casino launched in 1994, told KCRG: “In ’94 when we opened, it was crazy. We had a lot of coin. I think my favorite memory was getting rid of coin. Not everybody will agree with that.”
These upgrades will also create over 75 new full- and part-time positions across various departments, such as food and beverage, table games, and security. Starting wages for certain roles will range from $14 to $17 per hour, with higher pay for experienced or skilled candidates.
To support hiring efforts, Bally’s Marquette has scheduled a series of job fairs at the Cobblestone Inn & Suites Community Center at 100 North Street in Marquette. The events will take place on Saturday, January 10; Friday, January 16; Saturday, February 7; and Wednesday, February 11, each running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Once the transition is complete and all equipment has been moved to the new structure, the riverboat currently housing Casino Queen will be put up for sale. “A lot of memories on this boat, but we’re ready for that next chapter,” Corbeil said.
Local business owners have also welcomed the development. Sharon Patten, owner of Eagle’s Landing Winery in Marquette, noted the positive impact on tourism. “We see a lot of families where somebody goes to the casino and somebody hangs out at the winery or they’ll both make the winery and the casino destinations on their trip so we’re always happy to have the casino around,” she said.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/12/117086-ballys-marquette-in-iowa-set-to-replace-casino-queen-as-landside-facility-nears-completion
