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In March, the Iowa House and Senate called for the
removal of all 6,000 slot machine -like lottery devices installed at more
than 2,800 retail locations. The State’s governor has agreed to sign the
bill into law as well. The Iowa Lottery Touch Play Machines (similar to
traditional slot machines) have generated $212 million in sales since July,
according to the Des Moines Register.
Original supporters of the slot machines have literally changed their minds
regarding the slot machines. They feel that the amount of money and the
depth of scope of this project way outweigh what they were originally
supposed to be. When it was approved in 2001, legislators felt it would be a
much smaller project.
Many feel the slot machines have become a kind of toy to adults and children
alike. Those already with a gambling problem found it hard to resist the
lure of the new slot machines. The Senate voted 40-10 on March 13th to
remove them from businesses, giving them a 45-day period in which to do so.
The House voted 80-18 the very next day. There will be some fallout of
course, as removing the slot machines will now take a large sum of money out
of the state. The state will lose out on the 24% of profits they were
receiving, businesses will lose roughly $200 million in the first year, and
$350 in the second year – as they are losing the money from playing the slot
machines as well as their initial investments in them. The state is looking
into taking the money they have already received from the slot machines and
putting it toward reimbursing investors.
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