Advertiser DisclosureOnline sports betting is booming in Iowa; however, traditional online casinos remain prohibited in the state.
In general, casino gambling in Iowa is alive and well, with 24 licensed casinos in 19 different cities. Historically, gambling laws in Iowa have been quite liberal. If you are looking for casinos in Iowa or casinos near Iowa, numerous riverboat gambling cruises depart daily, offering your favorite table games and slot machines. Additionally, there are Indiana casinos in Iowa where residents and visitors can enjoy casino games in one of the many land-based casinos.
However, the Hawkeye State has yet to offer as many options regarding online casino sites. Following the decision of the US Supreme Court in 2018 to remove the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, individual states had the opportunity to create their own sports betting industry. Iowa was quick to jump on this and legalized sports betting. Consequently, online gambling is available, but only for Iowa sports betting.
Unfortunately, there has been no progress when it comes to online casinos in Iowa, or online poker, even though the aforementioned land-based casinos are extremely popular.
Some gamblers might be tempted to try some offshore casinos; however, we do not recommend this. Any Iowa casino is licensed and regulated, so your information and money are safe; this is not the case for offshore websites. Additionally, they do not have to go through the same stringent vetting process that regulated real-money casinos do in legal states.
Rather than risk playing at offshore casinos, players in Iowa can enjoy gambling on social and sweeps casinos online, such as Chumba. Although they don’t involve real money, they are entirely legal and in line with Iowa gambling laws.
Legal Online Casinos In Iowa
- BetRivers.net
- Chumba Casino
- High 5 Casino
- LuckyLand Slots
- Funzpoints
- Global Poker
As we have mentioned, although the above social casinos do not offer real money, they still allow people to partake in online gambling. Additionally, these online casino sites have Iowa online casino bonus incentives, which give players tokens to use on their favorite games. Chumba casino is a popular choice for players in the state. However, we have found there are some much better Chumba Casino alternatives.
Is Online Gambling In Iowa Legal?
Online gambling is legal in The Hawkeye State, but only for Iowa sports betting. Online casinos in Iowa are strictly prohibited; however, there are legal alternatives in social casinos. Players do not have to deposit to play at these social casinos, and you can enjoy online casino games for free.
Anyone wishing to use a social casino can sign-up and get several tokens or sweeps coins in their accounts. Additionally, these Iowa casino sites offer slot machines and table games where players can use those tokens and coins to gamble with. There is even the possibility of winning real money or prizes with sweeps coins, which can be used for casino play or tournaments. The official term for this is sweepstakes rather than gambling, as the player is not risking any money, making it perfectly legal in Iowa.
Social and sweepstakes casinos are the best options for casino players who want to enjoy games such as video poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots without the risk of using offshore sites. This is undoubtedly the way to go in Iowa regarding online casino gambling.
Will Online Casinos Become Legal In Iowa?
Although there hasn’t been any significant movement in terms of real money online casinos coming to Iowa, we believe this will change in the future. Following the success of online sports betting in the state, we feel more legislation detailing the process for online casinos to become fully regulated by the state government in the next few years. Currently, casino operators are open when it comes to federal laws and how they apply.
States where online casino gaming is currently legal:
- Connecticut Online Casinos
- New Jersey Online Casinos
- Pennsylvania Online Casinos
- Michigan Online Casinos
- West Virginia Online Casinos
- Delaware Online Casinos
It would make sense if the state produced regulations for land-based casinos to offer their own state-regulated online casinos. Additionally, we don’t believe the price entry points for an online casino will be high. When the state rolled out Bill SF617, the licensing fee was $75,000 for a casino to apply. This is a low figure compared to other states, where the number is typically over $500,000.
Land-Based Casinos In Iowa
Iowa has one of the biggest and best choices of land-based casinos in the US.
- Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs
- Blackbird Bend Casino
- Catfish Bend Casino
- Diamond Jo Worth Casino
- Grand Falls Casino
- Hard Rock Sioux City
- Harrah’s Council Bluffs
- Isle Casino Battendorf
- Isle Casino Waterloo
- Lakeside Hotel Casino
- Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel
- Prairie Flower Casino
- Prairie Meadows
- Q Casino
- Rhythm City Casino Resort
- Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
- Wild Rose Casino & Resort Clinton
- Wild Rose Casino & Resort Emmetsburg
- Wild Rose Casino & Resort Jefferson
- WinnaVegas Casino Resort
The above Iowa casinos provide plenty of options for gamblers. In terms of the best casino in Iowa, that is, of course, subjective. But rest assured, you will not be disappointed if you visit any of the properties above.
Legal Forms Of Gambling In Iowa
The below list includes forms of gambling that have been legalized and regulated in the Hawkeye State:
- Lottery
- Pari-Mutuel (Horses and Greyhounds, Live and Simulcast)
- Charitable
- Commercial Casinos
- Tribal Casinos
- Sports betting
Iowa has numerous casinos of all types of sizes that fall under the state’s regulatory body directly, in addition to those that are regulated by the Tribal Compact between the individual tribe in question and the state.
Most Popular Online Casino Games
If and when online casinos launch in Iowa, players will be able to play their favorite games on the go via mobile apps. We have provided a list most prominent online casino games below.
Online Slots
Regarding the sheer variety of games available, online slots are king, similar to land-based casinos. Some of the benefits of online slots include being able to access your favorite game instantly and having the potential to earn huge jackpots.
Roulette
Online roulette is a popular table game that translates well from the land-based version. The rules, strategy, and odds are the same; however, a random number generator determines where the “ball” instead of a spinning wheel. Bettors can use popular methods such as the James Bond strategy just as effectively online as in a brick-and-mortar casino. Additionally, you can place bets easily without worrying about a crowded table.
Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Iowa, but that could change in the future. The rules for online poker will be the same as well-known games like Texas Hold’em. However, because the strategy is different as you can’t see the players at the table, you must rely on betting patterns to read the other players.
Online Blackjack
Online blackjack is a fantastic way for amateur players to gain more experience. Hands are over quickly, and bettors can learn the ropes fast and get comfortable in different scenarios.
Live Dealer Games
If Iowa does legalize online casinos, live dealer games will definitely make an appearance. Some people prefer having a real person dealing the cards, so having a video stream with a croupier running table games suits those people perfectly.