Lawmaker Proposes Gambling Devices

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Lawmaker Proposes Gambling Devices

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A small group of lawmakers is quietly assembling a compromise to allow gambling devices in adult-only establishments as a way to ease bar owners' concerns about the state's new smoking ban.

Rep. Brian Quirk, D-New Hampton, says allowing limited and "heavily regulated" gambling machines in bars could help offset a decline in business that some bar owners complain is a direct result of the smoking ban.

He declined to identify the other lawmakers he's working with on the plan.

Quirk says they are suggesting games such as video Keno. He notes that the devices would be available only in adult establishments.
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Monday, Sep 15 at 5:50 PM Jim wrote ...

Oh no, not again. I think Iowans made it perfectly clear about slot machines being on every corner. No need to go down that road again.

Monday, Sep 15 at 6:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Hmm didnt they just take all of these out of the bars?

Monday, Sep 15 at 6:46 PM Old Guy wrote ...

We have way too much casino's and gaming machines now. Get rid of at least two casino's and then we can talk possible about this. but did you not just have to pay several million dollars on the last set of games?//?? do it and get voted out of office faster than you can say yes. A very concerned voter and Iowa citizen.

Monday, Sep 15 at 7:20 PM over taxed wrote ...

If you don't like gameing, don't play. Don't like smokeing, don't smoke. We don't need a nanny state, and as adults we SHOULD be able to decide for our selves what's in our best interest and what "Sins" we take part in.

Monday, Sep 15 at 7:59 PM tony wrote ...

ah yes back to the touch play machines.its back to the old mighty dollar again and to this they are going to use the smoking ban as a back door approach. i hope it works

Monday, Sep 15 at 8:58 PM Sebastian Furry wrote ...

Can't wait to go get drunk and lose all my money too. Allowing gambling machines in bars is a bad idea. That is the last thing our lawmakers need to be worrying about. If people want to go drinking at bars, they'll go. They don't need to gamble while they are getting drunk. What they need to do is allow bars to be open until 4am. Another concern I have is all the bars that were flooded out, I happen to be very concerned that they aren't getting the help they need, this is a real tragedy.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 7:24 AM One Man wrote ...

Another thought, does that then make them gaming floors not subject to the smoking ban. Casino gaming floor are exempt, if bar owners have slot machines does that make them a gaming floor also.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 8:02 AM well, well wrote ...

it's becoming more and more aparent that the law makers are trying to find more and more money to play with! first off, they decided some time ago gambling machines were wrong! now they want to put them back! taxed my smokes a buck a pack, what's next? government officials setting up drug bars so they can get more taxes from them? maybe they want to sell death gift certificates! yeah, you can buy one for 5 grand, the state puts out a death warrant, cop kills them! VOTE IN ALL NEW LAWMAKERS!!!

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 8:15 AM Disgusted wrote ...

They have to get another source of funding for their pipe dreams. Cigarette sales are down and they have half the kids in Iowa on the dole for free medical care. This is what happens in the socialist state of Iowa.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 8:34 AM James in DBQ wrote ...

Our legislators just can't help but to get down and roll in it. They know the smoking ban is unconstitutional, flawed and bias. These are the best and brightest in Iowa? No, I think they are failures that need to feed their egos on a daily basis while living outside their meger circumstances.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 9:53 AM Justin wrote ...

It looks like some of our lawmakers are on the gambling payroll. How did casinos get except from the smoking banned and bars not? And why is this comming up again when Iowans made it clear we didn't want them?

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 10:40 AM Iowa Smoker wrote ...

Hmm funny How now the government officials are now saying the same thing I have stated 4 weeks that it is hurt Iowa Bar owners maybe you dont see it in the larger towns because you have a larger non smoking population but in small communities this Law is strangling them and now the lawmakers want to offest those losses by bringing back touch play yet bar owners got burned big time the last time lawmakers tried this. How bout we try let the people Choose for themselves and gov. get out of the way

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 11:56 AM pak wrote ...

To over taxed. You may not choose if it affects others.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 11:58 AM pak wrote ...

Too bad if business is down. Not a good solution. They're just whining. We don't have to make up for it.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 2:51 PM Bill in Atkins wrote ...

Let's face it, the politicians don't care that bar owners are struggling. What they care about is alcohol and tobacco receipts are down, and they need more revenue from somewhere. Typical liberal pols, remove a legal activity, predictably lose money from it, find another way to fleece the peasants. At least your mayor can't write any new taxes when sleeping.

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 4:17 PM To pac wrote ...

I ride a bike. You drive a car. I don't have a choice as to you not being able to drive your car. YOUR CHOICE IS KILLING ME AS FAST AS MY CIGS ARE YOU!!!

Tuesday, Sep 16 at 5:20 PM kc wrote ...

Lawmakers can you beat it.First they put it in . Then they take them out. Now they want to put them back in. Seems like the same ol same ol to me,they cant make up there minds. This scares me,there running this country.Yae into the ground.Dont matter if there republicans or dems they dont know what there doing. All out of touch with the American people.

Wednesday, Sep 17 at 9:33 AM HMMM wrote ...

Does this turn bars into Casino's and thus a way around the smoking ban?

Thursday, Sep 18 at 10:35 AM George wrote ...

Hey,some of you bar owners and smokers, grow up and quit whining! Most of the United States has similar smoking laws, as well as numerous foreign countries. Have you ever been out of Iowa? Get your heads out of the sand and be realistic. I also think these dumb legislators that are thinking about putting gambling back in bars, should demand fiscal reports from all bars documenting under oath their actual losses--I think it is nothing but a smoke screen. QUIT WHINING!!!

Monday, Sep 22 at 5:31 AM I told you so... wrote ...

Hmm... Its been almost 1 fiscal quarter since smoking ban passed. Alcohol Tax revenue has gone down big time (predictibly). The state is now losing money, so its a backdoor around the smoking ban to reverse the financial damage. SEE, I TOLD YOU SO.

Tuesday, Sep 23 at 1:03 AM Anonymous wrote ...

just another way for democrats to cover themselves after ruining somethin good i mean come on they took our smoking away now our gambling whats next our freedom to walk the streets

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