Skip to main content

Iowa Casinos and Gambling Laws

Rachel Elam | January 20, 2020 | Updated on: December 4th, 2023

lowa casinoIowa 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

1
 
cafe casino
$5500 Bonus
7.9
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5,500 BONUS
Play Now Cafe Casino
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • 24/7 live chat and telephone customer service
List item
  • Play on any mobile and desktop device
List item
  • Bitcoin supported
2
 
wild casino
$5000 Bonus
9.8
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star
$5,000 BONUS
Play Now Wild Casino
Rating: 4/5
Our Top Choice
List item
  • 90% Cost coverage, no annual limit
List item
  • Easy, straightforward claims process
List item
  • No annual or lifetime limits
3
 
High Country Casino
$5000 Bonus
8.2
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5,000 BONUS
Play Now High Country
Rating: 5/5
List item
  • Great selection of casino games
List item
  • Wide variety and selection of bonuses
List item
  • All licensed vets are covered
4
 
Vegas Aces
$5000 Bonus
7.6
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5000 BONUS
Play Now Vegas Aces
Rating: 5/5
List item
  • 24/7 customer support available
List item
  • SSL encryption
List item
  • Proven fair by TST
5
 
Lucky hippo casino
$3000 Bonus
9.4
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Half-filled star
$3,000 BONUS
Play Now Lucky Hippo Casino
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • Up to 90% reimbursement
List item
  • VetConnect™ 24/7 helpline
List item
  • Save 40% for eligible multiple bets
6
 
sun palace casino
$10000 Bonus
7.1
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Half-filled star Unfilled star
$10,000 BONUS
Play Now Sun Palace
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • Great range of RTG slot machines.
List item
  • Reliable and experienced gaming operator.
List item
  • 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.

gambling laws in lowa

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