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Iowa lawmakers have sent Senate File 2289 to Gov. Kim Reynolds after both chambers backed the gambling bill without a single no vote. The bill would give the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission stronger power over unlicensed gambling platforms.
Good to Know
Iowa does not license sweepstakes casinos. Under SF 2289, that detail carries real weight, because any sweepstakes platform offering gambling-style games in the state could face action from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
The bill now sits on the desk of Gov. Kim Reynolds. She has not said publicly whether she will sign it, but the vote record gives the bill a clear path. The Senate first approved it 44-0 in February, and the House followed with a 93-0 vote on April 21. After that, the Senate accepted a revised version that lowered the cost-reimbursement pool from $70,000 to $45,000.
For now, Iowa regulators can only warn residents about unlicensed operators. SF 2289 would change that. It would let the IRGC send cease-and-desist orders and ask courts for injunctions against illegal games of chance, unauthorized sports wagering and sweepstakes platforms operating without state approval.
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing introduced the bill in February. Lawmakers later kept the measure alive during an extended session after missing the planned April 21 adjournment target.
IRGC administrator Tina Eick has described three types of operators that currently sit beyond the reach of the agency. One group copies licensed casino sites to collect personal data. Another uses crypto sweepstakes promotions while advertising cash prizes that never arrive. A third group includes offshore sportsbooks taking bets outside Iowa law.
SF 2289 covers all three areas. If Reynolds signs it, Iowa would no longer have to rely only on public warnings when unlicensed gambling sites target residents.