The outlook for online casinos in Iowa is far less certain now after State Representative Bobby Kaufmann confirmed that he will not be introducing any new legislation regarding the legalization of iGaming in the Hawkeye State. Kaufmann stated that his decision to stop pursuing legislation to make online casinos legal in Iowa was due to no longer being the chair of the State Government Committee.
During his tenure as chair of the State Government Committee, Kaufmann was unable to pass the necessary bills, with his most recent attempt failing during Iowa’s legislative session in early spring.
However, even though the Republican representative has now moved on from his position and has taken up the role of the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has indicated that he will support any bill that lands on his desk.
Speaking after his announcement, Kaufmann said “I can tell you if iGaming makes it to Ways and Means, I will be supportive.”
A Change of Focus
While the opportunity is now available for someone else to take the lead, the state has indicated that its focus will now be on retail casino projects, specifically the development of the new Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids.
This change of direction comes after a two-year ban on new casinos officially came to an end at the start of July.
As of early October, plans are firmly underway for the Cedar Crossing Casino, which is projected to cost $250 million. Currently, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) is collaborating with the Linn County Gaming Association to expedite the development scheduled for downtown Cedar Rapids.
This partnership previously sought approval from the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission in 2022 for a casino but any hopes of progress were ultimately derailed by the aforementioned moratorium on new casino developments in the state.
With a shift in priorities for Iowa’s lawmakers, it will likely be a while before Iowa joins the list of states where online casinos are legal. This page providing the latest on US online casino regulation currently shows that online casinos have been given the green light in just seven states, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, and New Jersey.
What to Expect in 2025?
While that number is expected to increase in 2025, with Ohio, New York, and Illinois all moving forward with bills anticipated to pass in the next 12 months, the legalization of online casinos remains the exception rather than the norm in the US.
With higher profit margins and increased tax revenues, however, the current landscape of regulated online casino gaming could potentially look vastly different in the next ten years, especially when considering that 38 states have made online sports betting legal in the US after the Supreme Court lifted the ban in 2018.
To achieve the same approval across the board, states need supporters like Kaufmann to carry the torch and highlight the financial benefits that legalizing casino iGaming can bring to local service delivery. By advocating for legislation that embraces responsible gaming practices, Iowa lawmakers can create an environment that encourages innovation and growth.
While Iowa’s efforts to introduce online casinos may have stalled for now, it is not the end of the road for iGaming in the Hawkeye State.