The Republican leader of the Iowa Senate says opposition to the TouchPlay lottery machines is growing. Senate Co-Leader Stewart Iverson of Clarion says it looks like a bill to ban the machines may have enough votes to move ahead.

“I would say it’s better than a 50-50 chance that there will be a ban,” Iverson told reporters Thursday morning.

The Senate will debate the issue Monday and the House will tackle the TouchPlay issue on Tuesday. Iverson isn’t revealing how he’ll vote.

Iverson’s Democratic counterpart does not expect an outright ban. Senate Co-Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs has said all along he expects a compromise that would restrict access to minors. Gronstal says while he hasn’t polled his fellow senators, he has given them lots of information and encouraged them to seek information. Like Iverson, Gronstal is reluctant to reveal his stand on TouchPlay.

Gronstal says he’s not sure either he or Iverson know what the consensus is, and he says that’s why they need to move ahead and vote on the issue. Figures released by the Iowa Lottery last Friday revealed TouchPlay brings in millions of dollars — revenue the businesses say they need and the state needs.