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3 sports betting bills submitted in Iowa

The midwestern US state of Iowa is heavily considering legalizing sports betting within its region. A total of 3 sports betting bills have been submitted to Iowan authorities which concern different stakeholders (casinos, professional sports leagues, online fantasy sports and the lottery).

Each bill covers a variety of ways to offer sports wagering, including mobile betting. Two meetings have been scheduled already to discuss the three bills presented to the various authorities. Bobby Kaufmann, Chairman of the House State Government Committee is hoping that these meetings result in a workable action-plan.

The first bill is backed by the Iowa Gaming Association (IGA). The bill concerns itself with casinos and IGA’s CEO and president Wes Ehrecke feels that with this bill, players could visit a casino to register and play online via mobile and later could even wager remotely sitting anywhere in Iowa. Ehrecke said, “They’ve got to make some philosophical decisions. Should it be on the casino platform? Or elsewhere? We feel that we’re best suited”

The second bill tabled in Iowa favours the major sports leagues in the country and would pay these sports organizations a fee for wagers placed on their games. The bill also covers online fantasy sports. Those in favour of the bill include sporting giants like National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Fantasy Sports Trade Association.

The third and the final bill in this regard focusses on sports betting and lottery. The bill proposes to legalize sports betting and limits its sale only to supermarkets and convenience stores and would only be available where lottery games are sold.

Some reports suggest that a fourth bill is also expected to be presented, which will reconsider the potential sports betting market in the state and analyse its plan further. The Iowan authorities are heavily considering introducing sports betting to the state, given its burgeoning market, which will see the state earn major tax revenues if it is introduced.

This news in line with recent trend of multiple US states which are considering like New York or Michigan or have already greenlighted sports betting in their territory like Washington DC and Mississippi last year. The development is a welcome one for the industry as well as state since the tax revenue earned would also be significant. Keep reading GutshotMagazine.com for more similar industry news as well as for general gaming/gambling related news from around the world.

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