(Des Moines) House lawmakers quickly advanced a proposed casino moratorium, passing it through a subcommittee and the Ways and Means Committee on Monday. House Study Bill 80 would impose a moratorium on new casinos in Iowa from Jan. 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030. It also prohibits the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) from granting licenses if a new casino would negatively impact existing ones. Additionally, it blocks applicants from counties where licenses were previously denied.
The bill passed the Ways and Means Committee with a 17-8 vote and is scheduled for debate on Thursday.
This moratorium comes as the IRGC plans to decide on a casino license for the proposed Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids. Supporters argue it would bring significant revenue to the area, while opponents worry it could hurt existing casinos. Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, who proposed the moratorium, is pushing for quick action in the Senate.
Some industry representatives say Cedar Crossing could lead to job losses and hurt investments at existing casinos, while others argue it could benefit the state by introducing competition. Rep. Sami Scheetz supports the idea of more casinos, citing the potential for injecting new money into the market.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and others advocate letting the IRGC handle the decision, asserting the commission’s expertise. Kaufmann, however, believes the legislature should be involved in regulating the industry’s future.
