New market studies commissioned by the panel that regulates Iowa gaming facilities show Nebraska’s plans to build casinos along Iowa’s western border will eat into industry revenue in this state — which Cedar Rapids officials hope will finally lead to regulators approving a casino in Iowa’s second-largest city.

However, one report particularly points to “cannibalization” of the market that encompasses the casinos in Waterloo and Riverside. That’s why Cedar Rapids has been denied licenses by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, both in 2014 and 2017.

Cedar Rapids officials say the city remains poised to compete for a license to operate a casino, though, as an apparent solution for Iowa to stave off competition from recently-approved gaming at Nebraska’s six horse tracks.