Iowa Gambling Expansion Plan Could Bring Major Poker Tournaments

Lawmakers in the state of Iowa are preparing to get in on the massive gambling expansion that is taking place across the US. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy gave some insight on Friday into the type of expansion that could be coming to Iowa.

McCarthy indicated that legislators are prepared to pass a law that will expand gambling at Iowa casinos. Currently, gambling is limited to gambling floors. With the new legislation, gambling could take place in other rooms located in the casino.

The main advantage of having the additional space available is attracting major poker tournaments. With additional space, the casinos would be able to go after some high profile poker events that would bring thousands of players into the Iowa casinos.

In turn, that would create more revenue for the casinos and the state. The new plan has a couple of differences from what lawmakers had been discussing. One of the big changes is not allowing bars to have video gambling machines.

The machines would help generate revenue for the state, but it would also bring unwanted competition to the existing casinos in Iowa. McCarthy indicated that the slot expansion legislation, "appears to be dead."

Iowa is just one of the many states in the US that are expanding their gambling options. The expansion or creation of the casino industry has been one of the driving forces behind rebuilding the economy of many states.

January 23, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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