Iowa Casinos

Jane Shaw By Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US Updated: January 16, 2024
Jane Shaw Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she's our gambling tech expert. Jane's also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

Iowa Casino Map - List of Gambling Locations

Iowa Casino Map

The Best Casinos in Iowa

Iowa Best Casinos
Prairie Meadows
4.0 /5
Prairie Meadows www.prairiemeadows.com 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, IA 50009, United States 1700
  • Fitness
  • Live concerts and shows
  • Swimming pool
More About The Casino
Ameristar Council Bluffs
4.0 /5
Ameristar Council Bluffs www.council.com 2200 River Rd, IA 51501, United States 1525
  • Fitness
  • Pool
  • Rewards Program
More About The Casino
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
4.0 /5
Horseshoe Council Bluffs www. caesars. com 2701 23rd Ave, IA 51501, United States 1378
  • Business Center
  • Fitness Center
  • Meeting Rooms
More About The Casino

Are There Indian Casinos in Iowa?

Of the 21 casinos in Iowa, four are Indian casinos, which are also sometimes called tribal casinos or Native American casinos. These are located on tribal land and are therefore not bound to the same rules as commercial casinos in the state. Below you can see the three best Indian casinos in Iowa.

Iowa Indian Casino
Blackjack Games, Casino Poker Games, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Other Games, Poker Cash And Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Slots Games, Read Our Review Visit Website
Blackjack Games, Casino Poker Games, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Other Games, Poker Cash And Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Slots Games, Read Our Review Visit Website
Blackjack Games, Casino Poker Games, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Other Games, Poker Cash And Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Slots Games, Read Our Review Visit Website

Racinos

Racinos are hugely popular in many states throughout the country. They give visitors two gambling experiences in one, as there’s horse racing or dog racing, as well as a casino. So, it’s possible to have a bet on the horses, before then heading to the casino and playing some slots for a while. There are two racinos in Iowa, one of which offers greyhound racing and the other of which has horse racing. Both of them are shown below.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Iowa?

It used to be the law that casinos in Iowa had to be on the water, however the law was changed in 2004, allowing casinos to be located in moored barges in manmade areas of water. Therefore, most are now closer to commercial casinos than riverboat casinos. Ameristar Council Bluffs is still a riverboat casino though and offers loads of exciting games. There are no cruise ships in Iowa, as it’s nowhere near the sea!

Full Iowa Casino List

Below, you’ll find a full list of Iowa casinos, from racinos through to Indian casinos. With 21 casinos in the state, there is a great chance that you’ll find at least one casino in Iowa that’s just right for you.

Choose a City
Choose a Type
All Casinos in Council Bluffs
Ameristar Council Bluffs 2200 River Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Harrah's Council Bluffs 1 Harrah's Blvd, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 Commercial
Horseshoe Council Bluffs 2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 Commercial Council Bluffs
Prairie Flower Casino 1031 Avenue H, Council Bluffs, IA 51510 Indian Casino
All Casinos in Davenport
Rhythm City Casino Resort 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807 Commercial
Catfish Bend Casino 3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601 Commercial
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327 Commercial
Wild Rose Casino & Resort 777 Wild Rose Dr, Clinton, IA 52732 Commercial Davenport
Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf 1777 Isle Pkwy, Bettendorf, IA 52722 Commercial
All Casinos in Des Moines
Prairie Meadows 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Des Moines, IA 50009 Racinos
Lakeside Hotel Casino 777 Casino Drive, Osceola, IA 50213 Commercial
Meskwaki Casino Hotel 1504 305th St, Tama, IA 52339 Indian Casino
Wild Rose Casino & Resort, Jefferson 777 Wild Rose Rd, Jefferson, IA 50129 Commercial
All Casinos in Sioux City
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City 111 3rd St, Sioux City, IA 51101 Commercial
Blackbird Bend Casino 17214 210th St, Onawa, IA 51040 Indian Casino
Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort 1415 Grand Falls Blvd, Larchwood, IA 51241 Commercial
Wild Rose Casino & Resort, Emmetsburg 777 Main St, Emmetsburg, IA 50536 Commercial Sioux City
Winnavegas Casino & Resort 1500 330th St, Sloan, IA 51055 Indian Casino
All Casinos in Waterloo
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo 777 Isle of Capri Blvd, Waterloo, 50701 Commercial
Casino Queen Marquette 100 Anti Monopoly, Marquette, IA 52158 Commercial
Q Casino and Hotel 1855 Greyhound Park Rd, Dubuque, IA 52001 Racinos
 

Expected New Casinos

There are currently no plans to open any new casinos in Iowa. The last new casino to open in the state was the Prairie Flower Casino, which opened in December 2019. If you would like to visit a different US casino, then check out our list of all of the best land-based casinos across the US.

Gambling in Iowa

Looking to find out how old you need to be to gamble in Iowa casinos? Or perhaps you want to find out what types of games there are in casinos in Iowa? Either way, you’ll find the answer – as well as much more – when you look through the facts on gambling in Iowa below.

Iowa Gambling Topics Gambling Facts for Iowa
Number of Casinos 21
Casino Types Commercial, Indian, Racino, Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Casino Games Offered Slots, Casino Poker, Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Blackjack, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Other Games, Sports Betting,
Age 21+ Casino, Lottery, Sports Betting,
Smoking Yes/No*, *Smoking inside is prohibited but there are external smoking areas in each Iowa casino
Drinking Yes/No*, *Drinking while playing is allowed, but no free alcoholic drinks are served
Opening Hours
24/7 , Some casinos are closed on Easter and Christmas. Check the brands pages for more info
Betting Limit No legal limits
Taxation of Winnings Yes/No, for additional details click here

Casino Games in Iowa

Quite simply, you’ll find the full range of games at Iowa casinos. This means you’ll be able to play slots, blackjack, roulette and more. You can even now bet on sports at many of the best casinos in Iowa. Take a look below to see some examples of the games you’ll be able to play when you visit the top Iowa casinos.

Slot
  • Dancing Drums
  • Fu Nan Fu Yu
  • Wonder Woman Wild
  • Quick Hit Platinum
  • 88 Fortunes
  • Mighty Cash Big Money
  • 17300+ slot machines
  • Types: Traditional Reel, Video Reel, Video Poker Free Slot Tournaments
  • Popular providers: Aristocrat, Bally
Casino Poker
  • Pai Gow Poker
  • Texas Hold’em Bonus
  • Mississippi Stud
  • 3 Card Poker
Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments
  • NL Hold’em
  • Limit Hold’em
  • Omaha
  • Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Criss Cross Poker
  • 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo
  • 421 poker tables in the state
Roulette
  • American Roulette
  • Double Zero Roulette
Blackjack
  • Blackjack
  • 21+3
  • Free Bet Blackjack
  • Tri Lux Blackjack
  • 21+3 Extreme Blackjack
  • Double Deck Blackjack
  • Many different side games offered
Dice Games
  • Craps
  • Shoot to Win Craps
  • Craps (Fire Bet)
  • Sharp Shooter
Lottery Games
  • Bingo
Other Games
  • Baccarat
  • Dai Bacc
  • Video Poker
  • Mini-Baccarat
  • High Card Flush
  • Match ‘Em Hi-Lo
Sports Betting
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Horse Racing
  • Legal to bet on all sports in Iowa, in retail venues or using a mobile

Gambling Legal Situation in Iowa

When was casino gambling legalized in Iowa?
Indian casinos were permitted by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Iowa then allowed commercial casinos in 1991, but only on riverboats. Commercial casinos not on riverboats are now permitted.
Online gambling
There is no online casino gambling allowed in Iowa, however those in the state can use the internet to bet on sport.
What is the legal gambling age in Iowa?
The minimum age for all major types of gambling in Iowa is 21.
Can you smoke in Iowa casinos?
Casinos in Iowa are not part of the Smokefree Air Act, meaning that smoking in casinos is permitted. Different venues will have different rules.
Horse racing / Off-Track betting
It is legal to bet on horse racing in Iowa.
Dog racing / Off-Track betting
It’s legal to bet on dog racing in the state. Iowa is only one of a few states where greyhound races are held.
Iowa charitable gaming
Charitable gaming, including bingo and raffles, are legal in Iowa.
Other legal restrictions
Sports betting has recently been legalized in Iowa and can be done in retail venues and online.

Taxation of Winnings

As is the case in all states, federal tax of 24% must be paid on wins over a specific threshold. This threshold differs from game to game, however it is $1,200 for slots. You’ll also have to pay federal tax if you win 300x or more than your stake. You will also find that you’ll have to pay an income tax on anything over $600 per year – the tax rate varies depending on how much you win, as well as how much you earn. You might also find that there’s a local sales tax as well.

Prize ($) $600+ per year (any prize) Iowa Gross Income Tax (%)Varies

Iowa Gambling Laws

Looking to find out about gambling laws in Iowa? If so, the two most important pieces of legislation are Iowa Code 99 and Iowa Code 725.5, which regulate gambling and betting respectively. Another important piece of legislation was passed in 2019, which allowed sports betting in the state.

  • Iowa (Gambling Houses) et seq.

    Regulates gambling in Iowa

  • Iowa (Gambling and Betting) et seq.

    Regulates betting in the state

  • SF671

    Legalized retail and online sports betting in the state

History

Take a look at the chronological list below to find out about how gambling in Iowa has changed over the years…

Iowa history image
history-iowa-img2.jpg Iowa legalized riverboat casinos in 1991.
history-iowa-img3.jpg
  • 1846 All types of gambling are prohibited in Iowa.

  • 1973 Specific individuals and organizations are given permission to offer games of chance, such as bingo and raffles.

  • 1983 Pari-mutuel betting at horse and dog racing tracks is legalized.

  • 1985 A state lottery is authorized, and the first draw takes place in the same year.

  • 1988 The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 paves the way for Indian casinos throughout the country.

  • 1989 Riverboat casinos are legalized in Iowa. Four riverboat casinos open in the same year.

  • 1994 Slot machines are allowed at pari-mutuel racetracks.

  • 2019 Iowa legalizes both retail and online sports betting. Daily fantasy sports are also legalized.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

Currently there are no upcoming changes to gambling regulation in Iowa. The state has only just rolled out sports betting, so it will probably be a while before any other changes are made to the gambling laws in the state.

Iowa Casino Resorts and Trips

There are many people who enjoy gambling at Iowa casinos, but want something extra. If you’re one of these people, we’d recommend heading to one of the fantastic casino resorts in the state, which offer a huge amount to do. Getting to them is easy too, as you’ll find loads of great casino resort trips on offer. Find out about the best casino resorts in Iowa, as well as the best trips, below.

Casino Resorts

You’ll find plenty of great casinos resorts in Iowa, however we’ve found the best of them – you can see their details below. At these casino resorts, you’ll find everything from live music through to golf, as well as loads in between. This makes them perfect places to visit for an entire day. You could even stay for a few days, as all the resorts shown below have loads of hotel rooms!

Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf
Number of Rooms576
Price Range ($)99-139
Special Packages"Isle Football Package", "Military Rates", "Senior Discount Rates"
Additional ServicesFitness Live concerts and shows Swimming pool
Meskwaki Casino Hotel
Number of Rooms416
Price Range ($)79-309
Special Packages"None offered"
Additional ServicesSpa Live concerts and shows Fitness center
Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Number of Rooms262
Price Range ($)85-325
Special Packages"$50 Food Credit"
Additional ServicesFitness Meeting space Golf

Casino Trips

You’ll find plenty of trips to some of the best casino resorts in Iowa. What’s more, most of these trips offer special perks to those using them, such as free play vouchers and food vouchers. You can find three of the very best trips to Iowa casino resorts below.

Trailways Travel  Visit Website
  • Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
  • $10 free slot play
  • Free lunch
Gannon Travel  Visit Website
  • Horseshoe Council Bluffs
  • $5 free play
  • Free lunch
Dot’s Fun Time Tours  Visit Website
  • Meskwaki Casino Hotel
  • $60 free slot play
  • $15 food vouchers

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can you win at a casino in Iowa before being taxed?

If you win $600 or over, you’ll need to pay income tax. The amount varies depending on the win amount and how much you earn. As with all other states, a 24% federal tax will also be levied if you win over a specific amount.

How do I ban myself from casinos in Iowa?

The Iowa Gaming Association offers a self-exclusion program. If you sign up, your information is shared with all commercial casinos in the state. Tribal casinos are not part of the scheme.

How much can you win at a casino in Iowa before being taxed?

If you win $600 or over, you’ll need to pay income tax. The amount varies depending on the win amount and how much you earn. As with all other states, a 24% federal tax will also be levied if you win over a specific amount.

How do I ban myself from casinos in Iowa?

The Iowa Gaming Association offers a self-exclusion program. If you sign up, your information is shared with all commercial casinos in the state. Tribal casinos are not part of the scheme.

About Iowa

State Image
Capital Des Moines 
Largest Cities Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City 
Size 56272.81 sq mi 
Population 3,155,070 
Time Zone Central: UTC -6/-5 
Abbreviation IA, Ia.