Iowa Gaming Association President & CEO Wes Ehrecke said that the association, which represents the state's 19 commercial casinos, is "asking lawmakers to pass a bill during the upcoming legislative session that would allow sports betting on professional and college sports," according to William Petroski of the DES MOINES REGISTER. State Sen. Roby Smith, who chairs the Iowa State Senate Government Committee, said that he is "open to considering legislation to allow sports betting, but he's in no rush to make a decision." Ehrecke's organization wants the state Legislature to "act now in anticipation that the Supreme Court will side with New Jersey in a pending case that could open the floodgates for legal sports betting nationally." A decision is "expected this spring or summer." Many court watchers are "guessing the Supreme Court will agree with states that want to offer sports wagering." If that happens, Ehrecke "envisions the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission could quickly adopt administrative rules to oversee casino sports betting." Meanwhile, Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard, as well as athletic officials at the Univ. of Iowa and Northern Iowa, "aren't taking a stance on the issue of sports betting -- at least for now." Pollard said, "It is very premature for anyone at Iowa State to be commenting on this issue." However, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino officials "aren't wasting any time." Prairie Meadows President & CEO Gary Palmer said that he has "already been scouting out places in the casino and the racetrack's clubhouse as possible venues to establish a sports book facility" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 1/4).
