Larchwood, Iowa — Legal sports betting at Grand Falls Casino Resort near Larchwood? It’s a significant possibility. But it all depends on the Iowa Legislature.
Legalizing sports betting is one issue the legislature is expected to take up in this new session, and the state-licensed casinos are preparing to get into the action when they do. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission recently approved an agreement requested by Prairie Meadows in Altoona to create an area for a sports book at their facility. It’s unknown if sports betting will be approved by lawmakers — but the timing is right for Prairie Meadows to create the sports book space during their remodeling.
The opportunity to change state law to allow sports betting became a possibility when the US Supreme Court last year ruled in favor of the State of New Jersey, which said that it wasn’t fair that only The State of Nevada could allow sports betting. Now states have to decide for themselves if they will allow sports betting or not.
Grand Falls Casino Resort General Manager Sharon Haselhoff tells us the casinos are pushing for the change.
She says some details still need to be worked out, but they are optimistic.
She says the Iowa Gaming Association has been pushing to get lawmakers to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court’s decision. She tells us that due to technology, bets wouldn’t have to be made in person at the casino — but they WOULD have to be made in Iowa.
According to Haselhoff, since many of their customers come from Sioux Falls and elsewhere in the state of South Dakota as well as Minnesota, to place a bet with Grand Falls, it will work best if out-of-state residents just come to the casino — again, assuming the bill passes.
She says while they encourage you to watch the game at the casino, you don’t have to be present to win and could just as well watch at home if that’s what you want to do.
She says Grand Falls is very interested in seeing where this goes and they’re hopeful that the state puts sports betting on a casino platform.
