Matthew Kredell serves as senior lead writer of legislative affairs at PlayUSA. He began covering efforts to legalize and regulate online gambling in 2007 after federal passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act disrupted his hobby of playing small-stakes online poker. He has since interviewed more than 300 state lawmakers around the country about gambling legislation, leading coverage of bills to legalize sports betting and online casino in most states. A lifelong Angeleno and USC journalism alum, Matt started his career working as a sportswriter for a decade at the Los Angeles Daily News. He has written on a variety of topics for Playboy Magazine, Men’s Journal, Los Angeles magazine, LA Weekly and ESPN.com.
Wes Ehrecke, executive director of the Iowa Gaming Association, tells PlayUSA that with 50-some new legislators bringing in new priorities, online casino legislation doesn't stand a chance in Iowa this year.
A New York lawmaker reintroduced a bill to continue the discussion on the possibility of expanding the number of sports betting operators in the state. Such an expansion would in turn lower the tax rate each operator must pay.