Iowans Against More Slot Machine Gambling

Iowa already has 19 slot machine casinos, including 3 racetrack slot machine casinos and 13 riverboats. They also have 3 Indian casinos on tribal lands, and now there are three more counties trying to get slot machine licenses as well. Many Iowans feel that they already have enough slot machine casinos out there, and that to add three more really is overkill. They think that the best move Iowa has made in years was when they banned the Iowa Lottery’s TouchPlay slot machines because they provided too many opportunities for people to gamble.

Some legislators are trying to stay out of the slot machine fray as much as they can. They are giving answers such as House Speaker-elect Patrick Murphy did when he said he is not planning on discussing expansion or restriction of slot machines and gambling. He said he is looking at education and business climates instead. It stands to reason that in a state the size of Iowa, 19 casinos is already a lot of slot machines.

Others think that those opposed to the slot machines are overreacting. They say that Iowa is ripe for more slot machines. They say that the amount of jobs and economic development that come from the slot machines are more than they can get in other ways. They say that the slot machine revenue has done so much for the state and the communities they are currently located in – how could anyone not want a slot machine in their community as well?
 

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