Iowa Casinos & Gambling

Updated on: April 2nd, 2020

Iowa gambling has a very long history. Like many other Midwestern states, Iowa casinos being on riverboats were common during the 1800s. Some even carried over through the early 20th Century. Iowa casino gaming was brought back and got regulated in 1989. It was the first state to authorize riverboat casinos in the country. They were the fourth to be legitimate after Nevada, South Dakota, and New Jersey.

Iowa has a state lottery, horse racing, and charitable gambling which includes simulcast bookmaking. Casino gambling was then later prolonged to the racetracks. Greyhound racing is lawful in Iowa however, it is in a sunset phase through a betting deal.

Iowa Casinos & Gambling Info

• Year Iowa Controlled Gambling: Lottery (1985), Horseracing (1983), Casinos (1989), and Bingo (2000)
• Estimated Tax Revenue: $375 million
• Estimated Gambling Revenue: $1.8 billion
• Iowa Gambling Age: 21 for all types of gambling

Types of Iowa Online Gambling Permitted

The only type of legal Iowa gambling online is off-track betting. Bets can be made over the internet and on mobile phones. Greyhounds and Horses are eligible. Daily fantasy sports sites are unlawful under state law. Iowa does not offer any skill gaming law to use like the industry does in other states. No legitimate daily fantasy sports sites operate in the state-run. All online poker, casino, and sports betting sites are located offshore.

Popular Games

• Slots
• Blackjack
• Poker
• Craps/Roulette
• Horses
• Lottery

Types of Live Iowa Gambling

Legal Iowa gambling comes in numerous forms. Racing was the first to be legalized in the state. Greyhound and Horse tracks were legal. The Iowa Lottery was the next method of gambling to be launched. Charities can also offer games of chance. These are available at religious organizations, lodges, and fraternal orders. All should be registered with the state in order to offer raffles and bingo. Social betting is also allowed in taverns with correct licensing.

There are 22 casinos in Iowa, as a combination of Native American casinos and regular Iowa casinos. All of the most popular casino games are offered, including craps, blackjack, roulette, and also hundreds of slot machines.

Iowa Gambling Laws

Daily fantasy sports bettors know that Iowa gaming laws don’t permit the activity. Iowa gambling law prohibits people from taking part in a game for any sum of cash or other property that is of any value. Players may also not need to pay a fee to enter a contest, irrespective of the amount of skill or chance.

The state can only spread a lottery. Off-track betting and Horseracing require a license. All casinos should be on riverboats except for those that are located at tracks and tribal land. Iowa riverboats don’t have to leave the dock.

Taverns and other gathering venues can operate social games. This includes sports pools and card games that do not take a portion of the prize pool as a fee or even operate in any other commercial manner. Bingo halls and Raffles must pay a licensing fee, which ranges from $40 to $100.

Iowa Gambling History

The first type of gambling legalized in Iowa was the pari-mutuel. Horseracing was then legalized in 1983. Greyhound racing followed about two years later. There were two horse tracks and two greyhound tracks in Iowa. Today, the state has one of each. The Iowa Lottery was created via legislation in April 1985. The first ticket was then sold on August 22, 1985. It sells scratch-offs, lotto tickets, and pull tabs.

Iowa was the first state to authorize riverboat casinos in 1989.  Boats left the docks in the days of riverboat betting. All of these rules were canceled in 1994 as the state felt that its betting industry was at a competitive difficulty after neighboring states legalized casinos.

List of Iowa Casinos