Iowa Lawmakers Have Innovative Way To Beat Online Gambling Laws

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 has put a crimp in the plans of many lawmakers around the US that would like to regulate online gambling in their state. Iowa legislators, however, have come up with a plan that would circumvent the existing federal laws.

Representative Brian Quirk is among a seven member working group that is attempting to bring expanded gambling to Iowa. He acknowledges that gambling is here to stay in Iowa and believes that the state should be a pioneer into the Internet gambling industry in the US.

"Look, either we're a gambling state, or we're not, and with seventeen casinos I'd say we're a gambling state," said Quirk, when speaking about the proposal that may come out of the group and be discussed in a House State Government Committee hearing next week.

Among the ideas that need to be worked out is how to get around the UIGEA, which forbids financial institutions from completing online gambling transactions. Quirk and other lawmakers have come up with a preliminary plan.

Gamblers would be allowed to go to one of the casinos in the state and open up and account to deposit money into. The gambler would then be allowed to bet online with the money that is in their account.

The catch would be how the gambler would get paid or withdraw funds. Under the plan circulating, a bettor would have to go back to the casino to either deposit more funds, or to collect their winnings.

The sports betting will be a harder sell within the state government. many lawmakers are vehemently opposed to any form of sports betting expansion. The Chair of the Government Committee, Mary Mascher, has already threatened to remove any sports betting provisions in a gambling bill that comes to the committee.

February 19, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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