If the bill passes the House, Senate and receives the governor’s signature by next Thursday, plans for a new, $275 million casino in Cedar Rapids will be halted.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday that would put a five-year, temporary ban on building new casinos in the state of Iowa.
Lawmakers in favor are working to fast-track the bill into law by next week, because the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meets next Thursday, to decide on a new, $275 million casino in Cedar Rapids.
If the bill also passes through the Senate and receives Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature before the meeting, the Cedar Rapids casino plans will be halted.
“I do believe we are in the correct purview to tell the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission how they should make major decisions,” said Rep. Bobby Kauffman, R-Wilton, who is the House floor manager of the bill. “We created them, change their rules on a yearly basis, a ruling of this significance I believe should have electeds’ involvement.”
There are currently 19 casinos located in the state, and those against the bill argue the Cedar Rapids casino would create more jobs and help the state’s economy.
Rep. Sami Scheetz, D-Linn County said: “In no other industry in the state of Iowa are you told you cannot enter if you are going to hurt the people that are already there. That goes against the basic principles of free markets and competition.”
The bill would prohibit the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission from issuing future licenses if a new casino would decrease the revenue at existing ones “by more than 10%.” The legislation goes on to add that casinos won’t be able to apply for new facilities for eight years in counties the commission previously denied a license.
A similar bill in the Senate advanced through both the subcommittee and committee levels Thursday, making it eligible for floor debate on Monday.
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