According to Iowa Gaming Association president Wes Ehrecke, the association’s members are set to push for legislative approval of online casino gaming in the state.
Although the matter cannot be raised in the house or senate until next year’s session, there is hope that a proposed bill can gain enough support to see the state’s existing gaming laws amended to include online casino games.
The news of a potential gaming expansion comes more than two years after the highly successful launch of Iowa’s sports betting industry that allows fans to make wagers both in retail sportsbooks and through online sports betting apps. In fact, the industry has been so successful that September saw the state’s licensed sports betting operators smash the monthly record by accepting over $210.4 million in sports wagers throughout the month.
Although there is seemingly plenty of support for the expansion among gaming association members, there are some concerns about how an online casino industry may affect Iowa’s bricks and mortar casinos. Opponents to the gaming expansion fear that the thousands of people working in the state’s land-based gaming industry may see their jobs come under threat while the state’s tax revenues may also be impacted. Since 1991, Iowa casinos have paid over $6 billion in taxes to the state.
However, gaming association members and supporters of the expansion feel that any loss in tax revenues from land-based casinos will be more than made up for by taxes paid by online operators.
In the 2022 financial year-to-date, online sports betting operators have contributed $870,136 in taxes while retail sportsbooks have contributed just $481,400. According to supporters of the expansion, this proves that not only is the demand for an online industry there but state taxes will likely increase as a result of its introduction.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.