Senate File 2134 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2134 BY GREEN A BILL FOR An Act relating to gambling, including social gambling between 1 individuals and the operation of poker card rooms, and 2 providing fees. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 6151XS (3) 91 ss/ns
S.F. 2134 Section 1. Section 99B.45, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 1 2026, is amended by striking the paragraph and inserting in 2 lieu thereof the following: 3 a. Card and parlor games, including but not limited to 4 poker, pinochle, pitch, gin rummy, bridge, euchre, hearts, 5 cribbage, dominoes, checkers, chess, backgammon, pool, and 6 darts. 7 Sec. 2. Section 99F.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the 8 following new subsections: 9 NEW SUBSECTION . 23A. “Poker card room” means a gambling 10 structure licensed under this chapter that offers poker games 11 to the public but does not offer sports wagering, other forms 12 of gambling games pursuant to this chapter, or pari-mutuel 13 wagering pursuant to chapter 99D. 14 NEW SUBSECTION . 23B. “Poker variant” means any form of 15 poker using playing cards, including but not limited to Texas 16 hold ’em, Omaha, seven-card stud, razz, draw poker, and any 17 other recognized poker game or variation approved by the 18 commission by rule. 19 NEW SUBSECTION . 27A. “Rake” means a fee charged by the 20 operator of a poker card room for providing the poker game, 21 collected from each pot or on a length-of-time basis, not to 22 exceed limits established by the commission by rule. 23 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 99F.5B License to operate poker card 24 room. 25 1. A person may apply to the commission for a license to 26 operate a poker card room as provided in this section. 27 2. A poker card room may offer any poker variant to persons 28 twenty-one years of age or older. 29 3. A poker card room may charge a rake as provided by the 30 commission by rule. The commission shall establish maximum 31 rake percentages or structures to ensure fairness and prevent 32 excessive fees. 33 4. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34 17A for the licensing, operation, and regulation of, and the 35 -1- LSB 6151XS (3) 91 ss/ns 1/ 2
S.F. 2134 collection of taxes imposed pursuant to section 99F.11 from, 1 poker card rooms, including but not limited to licensing 2 fees, background checks, facility standards, game integrity, 3 recordkeeping, anti-money laundering measures, and consumer 4 protection. Licensing fees collected under this subsection 5 shall be deposited in the general fund of the state. 6 EXPLANATION 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 9 This bill changes the list of games allowed as social 10 gambling between individuals from games of skill and games of 11 chance, except casino-style games other than poker, to instead 12 include card and parlor games, including but not limited to 13 poker, pinochle, pitch, gin rummy, bridge, euchre, hearts, 14 cribbage, dominoes, checkers, chess, backgammon, pool, and 15 darts. 16 The bill allows a person to apply to the state racing and 17 gaming commission (commission) for a license to operate a poker 18 card room, defined in the bill as a gambling structure that 19 offers poker games, including poker variants, to the public but 20 does not offer any other form of gambling game or wagering. 21 The bill allows a poker card room to offer poker games to 22 persons 21 years of age and older and to charge a rake, defined 23 in the bill as a fee charged by the operator of a poker card 24 room for providing the poker game, collected from each pot or 25 on a length-of-time basis. The bill requires the commission 26 to adopt rules setting maximum rake percentages or structures, 27 as well as rules for the licensing, operation, taxation, and 28 regulation of poker card rooms, including a license fee to be 29 deposited in the general fund of the state. 30 -2- LSB 6151XS (3) 91 ss/ns 2/ 2