Iowa Sports Betting Bill Tracker
Iowa was initially one of the last states expected to consider legalizing sports betting, but this is no longer the case. In a state where daily fantasy sports and internet poker have been opposed, the future of sports wagering seems to be a topic that lawmakers can agree on. Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Cobett and representatives of the Iowa Gaming Association had been vocal in their support of a regulated sports betting market in Iowa. It was estimated that the state could earn between $13 million and $24 million in yearly revenue if the sports wagering industry were regulated.
In the aftermath of Murphy vs NCAA where the Supreme Court ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) unconstitutional, many states started to draft their own sports betting bills. Prior to the ruling, Iowa did propose preemptive legislation for sports betting in Iowa but the measure did not pass. However, many bills were reintroduced in the legislative session following the end of PASPA and eventually it was SF 617 that made it through and got the governor’s signature.
Take a look at the Iowa sports betting bill tracker below to see all the legislative actions in the state that led to SF 617 passing. There have been about a dozen bills filed but some of them are twin proposals in the House and Senate so we will only focus on the unique ones that had the best chances of causing a stir for state officials or have helped shape the other bills.
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Current Iowa Sports Betting Bills
Sponsor: House Representative Bobby Kaufmann and Senator Roby Smith
Summary: The bill would allow for betting on both professional sports and collegiate sports. Although, in-game wagering on specific collegiate athletes would be prohibited. Mobile wagering would also be allowed but you would have to register in person at a gaming facility for the first 18 months. There would be a tax rate of 6.75 percent applied to all sports betting revenue with 0.25 of that percentage dedicated towards problem gambling associations.
Excerpt: “To establish a process to allow a person to be voluntarily excluded from advance deposit wagering as defined in section 99D.11, from an internet fantasy sports contest as defined in section 99E.1, from advance deposit sports betting wagering as defined in section 99F.9, from the wagering area of a racetrack enclosure and from the gaming floor and sports betting wagering area, as defined in section 99F.1, of all other licensed facilities under this chapter and chapter 99F12 as provided in this subsection.”
Actions:
- 02/25/2019 - Introduced in the Senate, placed on the calendar.
- 02/26/2019 – Referred to Ways and Means.
- 04/04/2019 – Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.
- 04/08/2019 – Committee report approving the bill.
- 04/17/2019 – Amendments S-3176 and S-3182 filed, adopted. Passed Senate 31 yeas, 18 nays.
- 04/18/2019 – Read first time in the House, passed on file.
- 04/22/2019 – Passed House, yeas 67 nays 31.
- 05/13/2019 – Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds.
Iowa Sports Betting FAQ’s
How Old Do I Need To Be To Bet On Sports In Iowa?
The age for legal Iowa sports betting as defined in the SF 617 bill is 21 years old. This is the same as the general gambling age in the state. The residents that use online sports that accept Iowa residents (i.e Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie) must be at least 21 to create an account and place wagers.
Where Can I Bet On Sports In Iowa?
Right now, there are plenty of land-based locations to bet on sports in Iowa. That is why sports fans currently use whatever land-based sportsbooks are closest to them. The passed legislation notes that riverboat casinos, land-based casinos, and horse race tracks would be permitted to offer sports wagering. Here are a few of the places where you can bet on sports in Iowa:
- Ameristar Casino Hotel – Council Bluffs
- Catfish Bend Casino – Burlington
- Grand Falls Casino Resort - Larchwood
- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – Sioux City
- Isle Casino Hotel – Bettendorf
- Lady Luck Casino -Marquette
- Lakeside Casino - Osceola
- Prairie Meadows Racetrack - Altoona