Iowa Senate Signs Off On Internet Poker BillMoves on to the House by a 29-20 margin |
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A bill in Iowa to legalize Internet poker passed out of the Senate on Tuesday by a 29-20 margin. The piece of legislation now moves to the House.
If eventually signed by the governor, Senate File 225 is expected to generate between $2.9 million and $13.2 million in tax revenue annually, according to a state fiscal analysis. The Internet poker tax would be 22 percent.
The majority of the tax revenue would go toward rebuilding the state’s infrastructure.
Potential licensees would also be required to contribute to educational and charitable initiatives.
According to the American Gaming Association, Iowa has 17 commercial casinos, and they generate more than $1 billion annually in gaming revenue.
Support for the measure exists despite a poll from The Des Moines Register showing that 69 percent of Iowans are opposed to the idea.
In a February op-ed in the Cherokee Chronicle Times, Iowa Rep. Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia) cited the poll and said that he doesn’t see the bill passing.
House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) told The Quad City Times that the bill has little hope.
Iowa and New Jersey, which is currently trying to figure out if Internet gaming should go to a referendum, according to The Star-Ledger, appear to be about neck and neck in trying to keep pace with Nevada.
The Silver State legalized Internet gaming in 2011 and is rapidly moving toward establishing the nation’s first intrastate online poker industry.
While states move ahead individually in the absence of a federal bill, a legal opinion released in December 2011 by the Department of Justice has opened up the possibility for states to form coalitions in order to create large player pools.
Follow Brian Pempus on Twitter — @brianpempus
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