Iowa racing going online

The ailing Iowa horse racing industry could get a shot in the arm if fresh ’emergency’ regulations to introduce internet advance deposit wagering are approved Thursday this week by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

If passed, the new regulations will allow Iowa gamblers to bet on horse races either online or by making a telephone call after money is placed into an account, reports the Des Moines Register.

The state legislature gave its approval for ADW earlier this year, tasking the Commission with setting up a regulatory structure that is expected to be implemented throughout the state early in 2012, Jack Ketterer, the commission’s administrator told the newspaper.

“This will be for people from throughout the state who would like to bet on Prairie Meadows races, but who really have no way of doing so,” Ketterer said.

Leroy Gessman, president of the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, sees Internet wagering on racing as a good move.

“I know that a lot of people were already playing online, and it was always kind of legally questionable,” he said this week. “Now they will be able to play online with Prairie Meadows and it will benefit [the track] and the horsemen,” Gessman said.

Ketterer said the new rules will require that all advance deposit wagering in Iowa – including betting on races at other tracks – must be done through Prairie Meadows.

The rules scheduled for consideration Thursday are being handled on an emergency basis, which shortens the time required for adoption by state regulators.

Ketterer said that will allow a faster start for the horse racing industry, which has already discussed the plans with Commission officials.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is also working on a study of online poker scheduled for delivery to lawmakers by December 1st. The report was ordered by the legislature, which needs to know more about the pastime before debating intrastate possibilities at length in the 2012 legislative session .

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