The state of Iowa, which is currently staggering beneath a debt of more than $400 million, feels that regulating online poker could be the only solution to its financial problems. If the state regulates and licenses online poker, it can easily add $11.5 million to its coffers.
Dough Struyk, the representative of the state, is a staunch advocate of regulating, controlling, and licensing online poker in Iowa with the purpose of extracting economic benefits for the state. Since Iowa has a large number of online poker players, the politician feels that regulating online poker can greatly add to the revenue of the state.
According to Stryuk’s plan, residents of Iowa would be permitted to deposit money in poker rooms run by the state. At present, Iowa has 17 casinos regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The commission hopes that it can earn huge profits by introducing intrastate poker in Iowa.
Poker players in Iowa are delighted about the idea of introducing intrastate poker. This means that they can play their favorite card game legally. Poker enthusiasts can safely play all variants of poker, from Omaha to Texas Hold’em, online.
Since Iowa is a pioneer in the online gaming industry, the intrastate poker bill could be easily passed here. The first casino in Iowa was established in 1991, at a time when the other US states were still engaged in heated debates over the issue. Iowa was also the first state in the United States to give a legal status to riverboat gambling.