Larchwood, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the bill into law legalizing betting on college and professional sports. If you are at least 21 years old you will be able to place a sports bets at Grand Falls, or any of the state’s other 18 casinos or online if you go to a casino and register in person for that option. The bill also makes it legal to bet and win at fantasy sports websites like DraftKings and FanDuel.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will now take over as Commission Administrator Brian Ohorilko says they prepare the rules to carry out the law.
He says they can get started on the issue right away.
Ohorilko says there will be a second track following the emergency rule process.
Ohorilko says the commission staff have been preparing for this possibility since the 2018 U-S Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting in all states.
He says they have been doing a lot of research and review.
Governor Reynolds had not indicated what she planned to do with the bill, only saying that the support for and against it had been running 50-50 after the end of the legislative session. Critics say this is the largest expansion of gambling in the state’s history. Supporters say people have been betting on sporting events for centuries and the new state law will set up consumer protections to keep bad actors from taking advantage of betters.
