Thursday Looms As Big Day For Gambling Expansion In Iowa

Iowa is not new to the casino gambling game, but they may still be wanting more. Gambling expansion proponents will be watching closely a meeting on Thursday of the Iowa racing and Gaming Commission.

The Commission will be discussing whether or not to begin taking applications for new gaming licenses. If they should decide to do so, there are several developers that are already preparing their proposals for a state that already has seventeen gaming licenses issued.

There are groups of people who feel that any more casinos in the state would saturate the market. The casino revenue is already dropping with seventeen licenses in use, but that is mainly because of the struggles of the economy.

"Even though there are a lot of casinos in Iowa already, if the state expands, it would mean more jobs for residents of the state," said observer Kelly Briscal, who is in favor of the expanded gambling, "I think any opportunity to create jobs would be welcomed under the current conditions."

The state has hired analysts to assess the gambling situation in Iowa. The goal is to find out whether adding more casinos would be beneficial in the revenue department, or whether it will just create more competition for the gambling money that already exists.

Of the commissioners that will meet next Thursday, only Kate Cutler remains from the last time the state issued gaming licenses back in 2005. Cutler is keeping an open mind about new licenses, but is leaning towards turning the idea away.

July 11, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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