If you’re an Iowa citizen, surely you are aware of the bill that has passed Iowa House and Senate and has been vowed to be signed by Vilsack (our clown for a governor). This bill would ban Touchplay machines through out the state of Iowa. In case you’re not aware of what a “Touchplay” machine is, it is basically a machine that works similar to a slot machine with out the need for special tokens, and is lacking a side handle, thus the need to “touch” to play the machine. These machines are administered and distributed by the Iowa Lottery.
Many businesses that have these machines in their business, help gain extra earnings for the business with of course a small profit going to the Iowa Lottery. Because of this bill that will be put in to Iowa Law, businesses are upset about losing their initial investment in these machines as well as the profit and are planning to rid all Iowa Lottery products (PowerBall, Hot Lotto, and other Lottery tickets generally sold behind the counter) as retaliation. If this was the case, the proceeds from the Iowa Lottery to the state would surely decrease.
So with all of this, is it gambling? Of course it is, anything that you pay to play with the chance of winning money is gambling. The other definition of a gambling game would be anything that is under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Gaming commission, which surprise surprise, local casinos and the Iowa Lottery are under.
So why is it a big deal? It’s a big deal because the casinos view the Touchplay machines as competition and a violation of restrictions they adhere to. Because of this, casinos have lobbied lawmakers to do something about it. The lobbing snowballed and gained the support of conservative groups.
So who is wrong and right? I don’t have an answer. I think that Vilsack is trying to move himself politically towards the center to try to help his presidential run, and by signing this bill, would gain some support among conservatives (but not this one). I think those businesses who want to pull all Iowa Lottery products out of their store should, after all where should the line be drawn? For the others the state should reimburse them for the purchase of the machines at least, but I don’t think they should have to foot projected income from these machines.
As myself being a conservative, I don’t play these machines but I also don’t really care if they stay or go. This is one of those you have to pick your battles deals and apparently the state of Iowa is ok with losing a good source of income and more income from potential retaliations which will send the finances that are already in the red, deeper in the red.