DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Lawmakers considered bills Wednesday that would likely end greyhound racing in Iowa amid a push to halt the casino subsidies that have propped up the sport for years.
The House State Government Committee and a Senate state government subcommittee approved similar legislation to phase out dog racing at Iowa’s two tracks, in Council Bluffs and Dubuque. But senators said lawmakers might approve changes that would enable dog racing to continue elsewhere.
“As with every difficult subject, we need to iron out our differences to get us to a consensus,” said Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, who sponsored the bill.
Under the bills, Mystique Casino in Dubuque and the Horseshoe Council Bluffs casino would be allowed to end dog racing after a 14-day notice. Since the casinos were created, they have been required to keep greyhound racing afloat.
That requirement would end, but the casinos would have to create funds to offset financial losses for greyhound racers, breeders and other groups. Mystique Casino would have to pay $15 million and Horseshoe Council Bluffs would pay $55 million over six years.
Casino operators said it was time to end their subsidies of money-losing dog racing.
In Dubuque, Mystique Casino lobbyist William Wimmer said the current arrangement means the nonprofit casino’s dog racing subsidy leaves less money for charities, schools and other community programs. Wimmer said he can’t see dog racing making a comeback at the casino.
“We’re on a downward path at our casino, and that’s not going to change,” he said.
Wimmer and other Dubuque city officials also questioned the amount of money the bills would set aside for the greyhound racing industry, saying a smaller amount would be more feasible for the casinos.
Even as the talk was about shutting the tracks down, members of the Iowa Greyhound Association remained hopeful for a deal to keep racing alive.
Association lobbyist Don Avenson said both sides need to be taken into account when reaching an agreement. The way legislation is written now, Avenson acknowledged greyhound racing would end, but he still thinks there is room to avoid that fate.
“We seriously hope there will be bipartisan discussion of what the terms of this ’divorce’ will be,” he told lawmakers.
Danielson said discussion on the matter will continue.
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