Iowa’s online casino landscape may see a shift in priorities, as State Representative Bobby Kaufmann, the driving force behind iGaming legislation over the past two years, announced that he is unlikely to introduce new online casino bills in 2025. Although Kaufmann’s most recent attempt to advance online gaming, HSB 227, stalled in committee during Iowa’s last legislative session, he remains supportive of others who may take up the cause.

Kaufmann, who no longer serves as the chair of the State Government Committee, expressed to Casino Reports that his current role does not position him as the ideal lawmaker to sponsor new iGaming legislation. “Since I am no longer State Government [Committee]

chair, it really isn’t my role to introduce gaming study bills anymore,” Kaufmann explained. “I could individually sponsor — and would — but it wouldn’t have the potency of a study bill.”

In Iowa, study bills proposed by committee chairs, the governor, or state agencies go directly to the committee, bypassing a step in the legislative process. On the other hand, regular bills may never see committee action after being filed by a lawmaker, reducing their chances of progressing through the legislature.

Kaufmann now chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, where he could still influence the trajectory of iGaming legislation. He indicated his readiness to support any potential online casino bills that might route through his committee. “I can tell you if iGaming makes it to Ways and Means,” Kaufmann told Casino Reports, “I will be supportive.”

Retail Casinos Take Center Stage

While online casinos have been put on the back burner, the focus in Iowa’s gambling sector has shifted to retail casinos, particularly in light of the expiration of a two-year moratorium on new casino development on July 1. The spotlight is now on Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city, where plans for a $250 million casino, Cedar Crossing Casino, are underway. The Linn County Gaming Association has partnered with Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) to push the project forward near downtown Cedar Rapids.

This isn’t the first time the Cedar Crossing Casino proposal has surfaced. In 2022, the same team tried to bring the project to life, but the statewide moratorium halted their efforts. With the moratorium lifted, proponents are now in a race against time to secure approval from the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission (IRGC) before another potential moratorium is introduced.

Ironically, Kaufmann, while supporting the Cedar Rapids casino project, has voiced concerns about the broader impact of new casinos on the state’s gaming industry. “I do not have an issue with a casino in Linn County,” Kaufmann stated. “I have issues with any new casino cannibalizing the industry.”

Upcoming Legislative Session

The upcoming Iowa legislative session, set to begin on January 13, 2025, could be pivotal for the future of both online and retail casinos in the state. The IRGC is scheduled to vote on the Cedar Crossing Casino project on February 6, raising the pressing question: Could Kaufmann and other lawmakers push through a new moratorium before the vote takes place?

As the dynamics of Iowa’s gambling landscape continue to evolve, Kaufmann’s influence remains significant, even if his role has shifted. While the momentum for iGaming legislation may have cooled, the conversation is far from over, and new developments could emerge as the legislative session unfolds.

Source:

Iowa’s Biggest iGaming Advocate Doesn’t Plan To File Bill In 2025, casinoreports.com, August 30, 2024.

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