Isle Casino timeline

January 2010: The President riverboat in St. Louis announces its closing, meaning one state casino license will become available. Multiple Missouri cities begin to indicate interest in securing the 13th and final license.

April 2010: After a few months of casino-related discussion among city leaders and casino companies, several Cape Girardeau residents approach the city council about placing a gambling issue before voters in November.

June 2010: A market analysis by the Isle company finds a casino in Cape Girardeau would best benefit state revenue.

July 2010: Enough petition signatures are gathered to force a citywide vote on gambling; companies and cities make pitches for the last license to the Missouri Gaming Commission.

August 2010: The Cape Girardeau City Council votes to give Isle of Capri "preferred developer status" for a $125 million downtown casino.

September 2010: "Yes For Gaming," a committee in favor of bringing a casino to the city, forms and begins a campaign with the hopes of influencing the November vote.

November 2010: Cape Girardeau voters approve riverboat gambling. The ballot item passes 61 percent to 38 percent.

December 2010: The Missouri Gaming Commission selects Cape Girardeau to receive the state's 13th and final casino license. Demolition of homes along North Main Street had already begun to make way for Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. City officials announce plans to speed up the corridor improvements on Broadway in time for the casino opening.

January 2011: The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission approves final development plans for the casino.

April 2011: A groundbreaking ceremony is held for Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

August 2011: Concrete foundation is poured for the casino's floating floor.

November 2011: Steel beams for the casino are raised at the site on North Main Street.

February 2012: Casino company executives report a warm winter means the construction is ahead of schedule, and opening will be no later than Thanksgiving 2012.

May 2012: The Cape Girardeau City Council plans a spending policy for revenue generated by future casino operations.

June 2012: The casino's opening date is announced to be no later than Nov. 1, 2012. An employment fair for casino jobs draws about 300 people to the first day of a two-day event.

October 30, 2012: Isle Casino Cape Girardeau opens. More than 10,000 people visit in the first two days of operation. The Broadway corridor also is completed.

December 2012: The casino brings in more than $5 million in gaming revenue in its first full month of operation.

January 2013: The Cape Girardeau City Council approves the first set of projects to add amenities and improvements in the city.

March 2013: The casino's numbers for admissions and patrons reach its highest point. Nearly $450,000 is generated for the city of Cape Girardeau in one month. A second set of casino revenue projects is approved by the city council.

June 2013: The casino announces a cut in morning weekday hours to meet customer levels and demands.

July 2013: Admissions to the casino begin to pick back up after a three-month decline. The city of Cape Girardeau reports that more than $2 million has been generated for the city by the casino in its first eight months.

September 2013: Admissions numbers dip to the lowest level yet for Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

October 2013: A new vice president and general manager is chosen, and the casino marks one year in business.