Online poker bill introduced in Iowa
State Senate Study Bill 1068 would allow for interstate poker games if permitted by law.
A bill which would legalise online poker in Iowa has been introduced to the state legislature as Senator Jeff Danielson (pictured) begins his third attempt to pass such a law.
State Senate Study Bill 1068 was introduced to the State Government Committee last week, which must approve the proposals before they can progress to a Senate vote.
It would see poker legalised but all other forms of egaming banned in the state and allow Iowa residents to play join games with players “regardless of location to the extent permissible by law”.
Danielson has seen similar bills fail to progress beyond the state’s ‘funnel deadline’ for the past two years running.
His SF 2275 bill passed a Senate committee hearing in March 2012, while a similar bill failed in 2011, both unable to pass the funnel stage of the legislative process.
The funnel deadline is designed to cut down the number of bills debated by the state government by setting a date by which legislation must have gained sufficient support in the House and Senate to remain eligible for consideration.
Under the terms of SF 2275, Iowa’s land-based gambling operators would have been able to offer online poker, taxed at the same rate as their current activities. Legalised poker was expected to have raised around US$15m for the state, with $13.2m in taxes and $1.8m for educational and charitable causes.