Iowa Gaming Association President and Chief Executive Officer
Wes Ehrecke, president and chief executive officer at the Iowa Gaming Association, which represents the state’s 19 licensed casinos, recently stated legalizing online casino gambling will not be an issue in 2022, even though six other states allow it.
Ehrecke said, “We don’t envision any legislation coming forward, but if it is, we’re going to be neutral. We have some of our members that support looking at it. There are others that are opposed. They have questions and thoughts and so this is going to need to evolve over the next year or two before any serious legislation or consideration would happen.”
Ehrecke said analyzing the numbers in the six states where online casinos are legal will be critical, particularly regarding how online gaming revenue compares to in-person wagering and how it impacts casino attendance. “Is it going to be something that’s worthwhile like when we’re having our blizzards in the wintertime and things like that, so there’s just a variety of things, including how to structure it properly. You know, where’s the appetite for Iowans and legislators to want to have this as an option?” Ehrecke said.
He noted online sports betting launched in Iowa on August 15, 2019 and casinos have not suffered. Similarly, he doesn’t expect legalizing online casinos to have an impact. Ehrecke said, “It’s not just gaming. It’s the dining, the hotels, the comedy clubs, the variety of things that are within a casino, plus the concerts and conventions and the like. We’ve really created premier destinations in 19 places.”
