Iowa Ends Up On The Short End Of The Casino Gambling Stick

The state of Iowa might be able to take credit for the current boom in casino gambling around the US, but it is credit they did not seek. What lawmakers envisioned when they legalized casinos back in 1989, was a shot at being the next big gambling destination.

It is true that Iowa was ahead of the learning curve when it comes to casino gambling. Their vision is what has led to casinos in many other states, and although they still prosper from that decision, other states have stolen their thunder.

"What happened in Iowa was that lawmakers in other states looked at the model they created and decided their states would be a better destination for gamblers," said observer Walter Fiskle, "Then they took the Iowa model, and expanded on it."

It is not as if Iowa is not reaping the benefits from that 1989 and consequent other casino gambling decisions. The gross income for state licensed casinos in Iowa is over $1 billion. Their tourism industry also is helped by an extra twenty to thirty million people every year.

"If you go into the casinos in Iowa, they are packed, and it is good that they are providing jobs," said Jack Humer, "but when you consider what could have been if other states had not stolen our idea, it could have been unbelievable."

Recently, it seems as though that decision by Iowa was ages ago. Casinos have been going up at a record pace in the US, and to keep up with the competition, individual states are having to push the envelope even further.

"Looking at at the casino gambling landscape in the US, Iowa was certainly instrumental to where we are today," said CGW gaming analyst William Yancey, "but as with most evolution, the further along you get, the more the original project is perfected. That is definitely the case with casino gambling around the country."

So for now, Iowa will just have to take solace in the fact that they have opened the US to billions of dollars in revenue that is going to budget deficits almost across the board.

March 23, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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