Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently signed into law House File 146, a measure that will change the penalties for cheating at casinos. The bill, which will take effect July 1, makes it a Class D felony, with a penalty of up to five years in prison, for placing a bet after acquiring knowledge, not available to all players, regarding a gambling outcome, if the potential winnings from the unlawful bet exceeds ,000.
The offense will be considered an aggravated misdemeanor if the potential winnings exceed $500 but are less than $1,000; a serious misdemeanor if the potential winnings exceed $200 but are less than $500; and a simple misdemeanor if the potential winnings do not exceed $200.
Currently, the offense is considered a Class D felony regardless of the amount of the unlawful bet. Additionally, the individual will be banned for life from gambling boats and structures following a single offense.
In 2014, 22 people were charged under Iowa’s current law, with eight convictions and 14 dismissals, according to the Justice Data Warehouse.
