Iowa

Riverboat casinos in Iowa haven't functioned like traditional riverboats for some time, and now the state is set to scrap a law requiring gaming floors to be located above a body of water, an expensive law that was often creatively met, with some casinos storing their water underfloor in massive holding containers. The law is a throwback to earlier days of gaming in Iowa, before the state allowed land-based casinos. The change will allow riverboat casinos to move to land-based buildings and make it cheaper to build and maintain existing properties. The bill has already passed the House and Senate, and as of CEM's press time, was awaiting Gov. Chet Culver's John Hancock.