Both the house and the senate have passed a bill that would put a two-year moratorium on new casinos in Iowa. Now, the bill heads to the governor's desk for final approval.
If signed into law, the bill would setback Linn County leaders, who’ve been looking to build a new casino. Voters, however, approved the option to build a new casino in November 2021, shortly after the state commission rejected previous proposals.
At the moment, it's unclear whether Governor Reynolds will sign the bill.
The Linn County Gaming Association President Anne Parmley claims that lawmakers targeted the county. She believes that the gaming association deserves a chance to propose its best plan for a new casino.
Parmley states: "This holds the corridor back from entertainment, nightlife, dining and gaming options that were set to breathe new life into Iowa’s second largest city [Cedar Rapids] and give much-needed support and infrastructure improvements to the area."
Not long ago, Smarkets, a betting exchange platform, and Affinity Interactive announced a partnership for operating in Iowa. This partnership would allow sports betting market access in the state of Iowa.
The Smarkets app, SBK sportsbook, is unique in the Iowa market and is expected to launch later this year.
Jason Trost, CEO and Founder of Smarkets, said, "I’m incredibly excited about this deal. The potential for SBK is huge in America, so adding our third licensed state is key as we move to our next stage of growth."
Earlier this month, Iowa released its numbers for gambling and sports betting in the month of April 2022, net income from sports wagering totaled nearly $12.4m.