Gambling Expansion in Iowa Could Bring Big Poker Tournaments

Iowa lawmakers are looking to cash in on the gambling popularity in the US. One lawmaker, Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader, gave some insight on how the change in law could affect the state.

McCarthy said that lawmakers are looking to pass a law that would expand gambling within the Iowa casinos. According to Iowa law, gambling is currently limited to the gaming floor but with the new legislation, gambling would be allowed in other rooms of a casino.

The biggest advantage to passing this law is that it would attract major poker tournaments, which in turn would provide more revenue. If additional space where made available high profile poker tournaments and thousands of players may come to play in big poker events at the Iowa casinos. The new plan has a couple of differences from what lawmakers had been discussing. One of the big changes is not allowing bars to have video gambling machines.

The machines would help generate revenue for the state, but it would also bring unwanted competition to the existing casinos in Iowa. McCarthy indicated that the slot expansion legislation, "appears to be dead."

Iowa is just one of the many states in the US that are expanding their gambling options. The expansion or creation of the casino industry has been one of the driving forces behind rebuilding the economy of many states.

News Added: 25 January, 2010

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