Sports betting bill introduced in Iowa legislature

Although the sports betting proposal is expected to be approved, Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston, who chaired the subcommittee, cautioned the bill as drafted is certain to be amended. It is far from decided how the gambling would be conducted and how the profits would be shared.

"This is not the bill," Highfill said. "We will keep working on this bill as we move forward."

However, Highfill also signaled that placing sports bets on mobile phones will definitely be part of the proposal.

"If we want to stop the black market, you have to do mobile," Highfill said.

The legislation is being discussed in anticipation that the U.S. Supreme Court will take action in the coming months to strike down a federal law that bans sports betting in most states. The American Gaming Association, a casino industry group, estimates that sports fans annually wager at least $150 billion illegally, including nearly $90 billion on National Football League and college football games last season.

The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball are both registered in opposition to the original draft of the Iowa legislation, which would authorize the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to oversee wagering on professional and college sports. Under the bill as drafted, Iowa's casinos would take bets on sports events and gamblers could participate either by visiting Iowa casino sports books or by by placing wagers online.

Two different amendments to the original bill — one 13-pages long and another totaling seven pages — were discussed at Wednesday's meeting, indicating that some major revisions are likely before the legislation is finalized.