Iowa lawmakers are saying that gambling is a yes-or-no question, and so long as the answer's yes, then online casinos, Internet poker, and sports betting have to be allowed. With the talk over gaming long since settled within the tiny state with 17 casinos, legislators are considering legalizing hottest types of gambling to capture revenue presently lost to unregulated games.The bill would permit sports betting on professional and school sports, except when schools within the state are involved. Online gambling would allow residents to fund accounts at existing casinos, then play poker and gamble from home. Patrons must physically visit the casino to gather winnings or deposit funds, allowing age checks and identity review.
The sports betting provision could be only symbolic in nature until a federal ban on sports gambling is lifted; but pressure was mounting a few of the states for Congress to withdraw the law and let each state make its own policy.
A bipartisan committee of lawmakers have been engaged on the measure, and it is going to advance to the State Government Committee in the home once next week.
"Look, either we're a gambling state or we're not, and with 17 casinos I'd say we're a gambling state," said Representative Brian Quirk to critics who need to limit the kinds of games available.
Quirk's bill would also permit major poker tournaments to be held at state casinos, and would bring profits to state tracks on simulcast betting from out of state on Iowa racing.
Published on February 18, 2010 by A.J.Maldonado
Read More... [Source: Sports Betting News]
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