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Iowa House passes sports betting bill 67-31
The Iowa State Capital Building in Des Moines
Radio Iowa and North Iowa News contributed to this story.
Des Moines, Iowa – The governor must now decide whether sports betting should be legal in Iowa. Monday night, the Iowa House gave final legislative approval to a bill that would let the 19 state-licensed casinos take wagers on professional and college sports.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says many Iowans want the freedom to do this legally.
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Some casinos have been planning to set up "sports book" areas, but most of the betting would be done through a smart phone app.
The bill passed the Senate late last week and 67 members of the Iowa House voted for it last night. Thirty-one members of the House voted against legalized sports gambling.
Representative Todd Prichard voted no.
In an interview last week with North Iowa News, he said he's not opposed to sports betting, but wouldn't support the current bill hoping to keep Iowa colleges and universities out.
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Representative Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says it's a foolish, misguided and ill-advised.
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The bill also allows Iowans to claim prizes in "fantasy sports" leagues connected to the performance of professional athletes from a variety of teams.
Bobby Kaufmann Sandy Salmon Todd Prichard
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