The Republican Governor for Iowa, Kim Reynolds (pictured), put her signature to a piece of legislation last week that will see the state allow sportsbetting to be conducted online and via its collection of 19 land-based casinos.
The move means that Iowa has become the second Midwestern state after Indiana to have legalized sports wagering although the first bets will likely not be to be placed until at least July.
This will allow anyone in ‘The Hawkeye State’ over the age of 21 to place wagers on the outcomes of a wide range of collegiate, professional and international events including daily fantasy sports contests. It also hands regulatory control to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, which will now be tasked with formulating adequate rules, while requiring operators to hand over 6.75% of their sportsbetting hold in tax.
