Iowa's Online Poker Bill Likely Dead

Iowa's attempt to legalize and regulate online poker has likely met its end, as the bill will not be progressed through the House State Government Committee due to what is being called a "general lack of interest".

Iowa newspaper The Gazette reports that the Republican Committee Chief Kraig Paulsen indicated that he has no plans to progress the SF2257 any further, likely dooming the bill that would legalize online poker because of a procedural deadline that is set to pass today.

Speaking about the lack of interest about the online poker bill, Paulsen reportedly said "What are we in? Week 10? I don’t know if I’ve had three members mention this subject to me … until this week when the big hub-bub was.”

The Chairman went on to say that there has been no pressure to move the bill on, and that there are not enough Republican votes to move it forward.

Earlier in the week, the Iowa State Senate passed the bill with a 29-20 vote after only a ten minute discussion. State Representative Peter Crownie then scheduled a meeting for late yesterday to read the bill. Even though the bill was introduced, Rep. Paulsen's committee did not meet, which will likely kill the bill.

The state has set a deadline of March 16th for the Legislature to pass non-money measures to clear one legislative chamber and a committee of the other. If a bill does not meet this criteria it will not be considered for the rest of the legislative session.