Iowa Casinos and Gambling Laws
Rachel Elam | January 20, 2020 | Updated on: December 4th, 2023
Iowa gambling has a very long history. Like many other Midwestern states, Iowa casinos were common during the 1800s on riverboats. Some casinos carried over through the early 20th Century. Iowa gambling was brought back and also regulated in 1989. It is the first state to legalize riverboat casinos in the state.
Iowa casinos became the fourth casinos to be legalized after New Jersey, Nevada, and South Dakota. Iowa has a state lottery, generous gambling and also horse racing, which comprises of simulcast betting. Casino gaming was then later expanded to the racetracks. Greyhound racing is legal however, it is in a sunset phase via a gaming deal.
Online Casinos in Iowa
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24/7 live chat and telephone customer service
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Play on any mobile and desktop device
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Bitcoin supported
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90% Cost coverage, no annual limit
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Easy, straightforward claims process
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No annual or lifetime limits
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Great selection of casino games
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Wide variety and selection of bonuses
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All licensed vets are covered
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Up to 90% reimbursement
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VetConnect™ 24/7 helpline
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Save 40% for eligible multiple bets
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Great range of RTG slot machines.
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Reliable and experienced gaming operator.
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Networked RTG progressive jackpots.
Iowa Casino Locations
- Council Bluffs
- Sioux City
- Onawa
- Burlington
- Dubuque
- Northwood
- Larchwood
- Bettendorf
- Marquette
- Davenport
- Waterloo
- Tama
- Altoona
- Riverside
- Osceola
- Clinton
- Jefferson
- Sloan
Iowa Casinos & Gambling Info
- Year Iowa Gambling was Regulated: Horseracing (1983), Casinos (1989), Lottery (1985), Bingo (2000)
- Estimated Tax Revenue: $375 million
- Estimated Gaming Revenue: $1.8 billion
- Iowa Gambling Age:21
Types of Iowa Online Gambling
The only type of legal online gambling in Iowa is off-track betting. Bets can be made online and on mobile. Daily fantasy sports sites are unlawful under state law. Iowa State does not offer any skill gaming law to use as other states. No genuine daily fantasy sports sites operating in the state.
Popular Casino Games
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Poker
- Craps/Roulette
- Horses
- Lottery
Types of Live Gambling in Iowa
Legal gambling in Iowa comes in numerous forms. Racing is the first to be made legal in the state. Greyhound and Horse tracks were both lawful. The Iowa Lottery was the next type of gambling to exist.
Tickets for the lottery are sold at convenience stores, however, not online. Charities can offer games of chance. There is a total of 22 casinos available in Iowa, as a mixture of regular Iowa casinos and the Native American casinos.
All popular casino games are offered, including craps, blackjack, roulette and hundreds of slot games.
Gambling Laws in Iowa
Daily fantasy sports fanatics know that Iowa gambling laws don’t permit the activity. Casino gamblers can’t pay a fee to enter any contest, irrespective of the amount of skill or even chance. There are exceptions to this. They include horseracing, bingo, licensed Iowa casinos and also social gaming.
The lottery can only be spread by the state. Off-track betting and Horseracing require a license. All casinos should be on riverboats except for those located at tracks and on the tribal land. Iowa riverboats no longer have to leave the dock.
There are no bet or game limits. Bingo and Raffles halls pay a licensing fee which ranges from $40 to $100. The minimum betting age in Iowa is 21.
List of Iowa Casinos
CASINO | SIZE | ADDRESS | WEBSITE |
Ameristar Casino – Council Bluffs | 1,400 Slot Machines | 2200 River Road | www.ameristar.com |
Blackbird Bend Casino – Onawa | 400 Slot Machines | 1 Blackbird Bend Boulevard | www.blackbirdbendcasinos.com |
Catfish Bend Casino – Burlington | 700 Slot Machines | 3001 Winegard Drive | www.catfishbendcasino.com |
Diamond Jo Casino – Dubuque | 900 Slot Machines | 301 Bell Street | www.diamondjo.com |
Diamond Jo Casino – Northwood | 900 Slot Machines | 777 Diamond Jo Lane | www.diamondjo.com |
Great Falls Casino – Larchwood | 900 Slot Machines | 1415 Grand Falls Blvd. | www.grandfallscasinoresort.com |
Hard Rock Casino – Sioux City | 800 Slot Machines | 401 Douglas Street | www.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com |
Harrah’s – Council Bluffs | 1,000 Slot Machines | 1 Harrah’s Boulevard | www.caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluffs |
Horseshoe Casino – Council Bluffs | 1,900 Slot Machines | 2701 23rd Avenue | www.caesars.com/harrahs |
Isle of Capri – Bettendorf | 1,000 Slot Machines | 1777 Isle Pkwy | bettendorf.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Isle of Capri – Waterloo | 1,000 Slot Machines | 777 Isle of Capri Blvd. | waterloo.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Lady Luck – Marquette | 540 Slot Machines | 100 Anti-Monopoly | marquette.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Lakeside Casino – Osceola | 1,000 Slot Machines | 777 Casino Drive | www.lakesidehotelcasino.com |
Meskwaki Casino – Tama | 1,300 Slot Machines | 349 Meskwaki Road | www.meskwaki.com |
Mystique Casino – Dubuque | 1,000 Slot Machines | 1855 Greyhound Park Road | www.dgpc.com |
Prairie Meadows – Altoona | Slot Machines | 1 Prairie Meadows Dr. | www.prairiemeadows.com |
Rhythm City Casino – Davenport | 800 Slot Machines | 101 W River Dr. | www.rhythmcitycasino.com |
Riverside Casino – Riverside | 1,181 Slot Machines | 3184 Highway 22 | www.riversidecasinoandresort.com |
Wild Rose Casino – Clinton | 600 Slot Machines | 777 Wild Rose Drive | clinton.wildroseresorts.com |
Wild Rose Casino – Emmettsburg | 550 Slot Machines | 777 Main Street | www.wildroseresorts.com |
Wild Rose Casino – Jefferson | 536 Slot Machines | 777 Wild Rose Drive | jefferson.wildroseresorts.com |
WinnaVegas Casino – Sloan | 850 Slot Machines | 1500 330th St. | www.winnavegas.com |
Iowa Gambling History
The first type of gambling that was legalized in Iowa was pari-mutuel. Horseracing was then made legal in 1983. Greyhound racing then followed two years later. There were two horse tracks and two greyhound tracks in Iowa. Today, there is only one of each. The Iowa Lottery was created over the legislation in April 1985.
The first ticket was then sold on August 22, 1985. It sells pull tabs, scratch-offs and lotto tickets. There were TouchPlay machines under the control of the Iowa Lottery. Iowa became the first state to authorize riverboat casinos in 1989.
Betting limits were limited to $5 with a $200 loss limit per cruise. All casino players had to use a rewards card that was tracking the amount lost per play. Iowa casino gamblers were also required to leave the boat every two hours.
More States Gambling Guides
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Rhodes Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee