Some Iowa legislators are considering allowing limited gambling in bars to help them offset losses due to the Iowa smoking ban and to deal with the grossly unfair advantage casinos have with their smoking exemption, according to a story in The Sioux City Journal:

A state lawmaker says a small group of legislators is quietly assembling a compromise to allow gambling devices in adult-only establishments as a way to ease bar owners’ concerns about Iowa’s new smoking ban.

Rep. Brian Quirk, D-New Hampton, said allowing limited and “heavily regulated” gambling machines in bars could help offset a decline in business that some bar owners complain is a direct result of the smoking ban, which went into effect in July.