The bill amends the licensing and regulation of gambling games in Iowa, instituting a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses until after a comprehensive socioeconomic study is conducted. The study, mandated to occur every eight years, will assess the impact of gambling on Iowans, including financial and societal effects, problem gambling treatment programs, and the potential market conditions for new licenses. The report must be publicly accessible and include evaluations of existing gambling facilities, criminal statistics, and the impact on community services.

Additionally, the bill establishes limitations on the number of licenses that can be issued, capping them at nineteen from January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, and restricting licenses to counties where gambling facilities were already operating as of January 1, 2025. The commission is granted authority to allow existing licensees to relocate within the same county and to issue new licenses under specific conditions, such as when a license is surrendered or revoked. The bill also includes provisions to prevent the issuance of new licenses that would negatively impact existing operations, particularly in rural counties or those adjacent to the Iowa border. The act takes effect immediately upon enactment and is retroactively applicable to January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 99F.4, 99F.6, 99F.10
Reprinted: 99F.4, 99F.6