Bills › 91st General Assembly
Concerning the licensing and regulation of gambling games, including a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions
Topics:Cities & counties
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 29, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeJanuary 30, 2025
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseJanuary 30, 202568–31
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 173 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 173 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill concerns the licensing and regulation of gambling games. Under current law, the state racing and gaming commission (commission) is required to conduct a socioeconomic study on the impact of gambling on Iowans every eight years. The bill identifies certain topics the commission must examine for this socioeconomic study, and prohibits the commission from issuing a new license on or after July 1, 2030, until the required report on the socioeconomic study has been issued by the commission for 2029.
Read the full explanation
The bill places a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to conduct gambling games in excess of licenses from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The bill restricts gambling games licenses to those counties conducting gambling games on January 1, 2025. The bill allows the commission to authorize a gambling games licensee to move to a new location within the same county, to issue a gambling games license in a county if a licensed facility in that county is sold, and to issue a new license in a county if a previous license to conduct gambling games in that county was surrendered, not renewed, or revoked. Before a license is granted, the bill requires an operator of an excursion gambling boat to work with the economic development authority to encourage tourism from other states. The bill prohibits the commission from issuing a new gambling games license to an excursion gambling boat if the new license would impact an existing licensee located in a county contiguous to the Iowa border or a “rural county” (a county with a population less than 30,000). _____ gambling games license if the new license would negatively impact the adjusted gross receipts of an existing gambling games licensee by more than percent, or negatively impact the annual distributions of an existing qualified sponsoring organization. If the commission does not issue a gambling games license in a county, another applicant cannot apply for a license in the same county for eight years from the date of the decision not to issue. The bill requires the commission to study internet gaming and its impact on the state’s gaming industry and to issue a report with findings and recommendations to the general assembly by January 1, 2026. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to January 1, 2025.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-1002; see Amendments. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named January 29, 2025. On January 30, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
The IRGC estimates the cost of each study to be $200,000 or more. The cost of the socioeconomic study would be incurred in FY 2030 and every eight years thereafter. The cost of the study on Internet gaming’s impact on the State would be incurred in FY 2026. Funding to administer the studies would be provided through appropriations from the Gaming Regulatory Revolving Fund.
- Casino Moratorium · January 29, 2025
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§99F.5A
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
19 for · 11 against · 2 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
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91st General Assembly
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