Iowa Lawmaker Suggests Gambling To Replace Smoking In Bars

Many organizations are fighting against smoking and gambling. Millions of dollars are spent every year lobbying for the elimination of both from individual state public places.

Iowa, on the other hand, appears to be taking having split personalities regarding the two issues. They recently banned smoking in almost all public places, including restaurants and bars. One place there is still allowed to be smoking is in the state's casinos.

That has caused an uproar among bar owners who feel they are now on uneven ground with the casinos. A lawmaker actually agrees with the bar owners and is proposing the most unusual of ideas.

Instead of allowing smoking in the bars, Representative Brian Quirk is suggesting that the bars be allowed to offer gambling as a replacement for the smoking. He believes that bar owners have a legitimate gripe about the new smoking laws.

"We're creating this inequity between casinos and bars. If (bars) were allowed to have some type of gaming device, on a limited basis and heavily regulated, that would go a long way toward keeping their doors open," said Quirk.

While Democrats control both sides of the Legislature, a proposal such as expanding gambling into bars could become a major issue in the state. Even with the potential for controversy, Quirk is behind trying to even the playing field for bars in the state.

September 16, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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