Iowa lawmakers discuss sports betting legislation

Lawmakers in Iowa want to legalise sports betting to take advantage of the benefits that the modality brings.

US.- Sports betting has been legalised in the United States for over 9 months, but the decision of the US Supreme Court to lift the federal ban also gave states the power to decide wether they wanted to approve the modality or not. Iowa lawmakers are now considering the possibility of offering sports betting and therefore increasing revenues for the state.

While a number of legislators are pushing for a favorable framework to legalise the modality, others are not so sure that approving sports betting is in the state’s best interest.

“I’m opposed to sports betting,” said Rep. Dean Fisher. “I don’t think we need anymore gambling opportunities. There are casinos all over Iowa, if you want to gamble you can gamble.”

Rep. Mark Smith agreed with Fisher and said that Iowa has to be very careful with how it proceeds with it and that he hasn’t read any legislative piece that would approve sports betting and therefore he is undecided on whether he would vote in favor of it or not. 

On the other hand, Senator Edler said if such a bill came to the floor he is likely to vote in favor because the state already offers gambling services and Iowa would already have an authority over it, just like casinos and other types of gambling.

Iowa has already presented a number of bills in both the House and Senate in an attempt to legalise sports betting, but it is yet to approve one.