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Introduction to Iowa Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Iowa slot machine casino gambling consists of nineteen commercial casinos and four American Indian tribal casinos.

I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Iowa

The minimum legal gambling age in Iowa does not depend upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 21
• Lottery: 21
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21

Since 1972, Iowa is at the forefront of the gambling industry with regards to legalized gambling after Nevada and New Jersey. Iowa was the first state to legalize riverboat casinos and allow both slot machines and table games at pari-mutuel racetrack facilities. By doing so, they created the first “racinos”.

In 2017, the IRGC requested gaming market analysis studies from two independent contracting companies to provide comprehensive Iowa gaming market studies including Marquette Advisors and WhiteSand Gaming.

The negotiated and approved tribal-state gaming compacts for Iowa’s three federally recognized tribes is available using the search tool at Indian Gaming Compacts within the Indian Affairs Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Iowa

In Iowa, it is legal to own a slot machine privately if it is 25 years of age or older.

Gaming Control Board in Iowa

The Iowa legislature created the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) with the passing of the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act of May 1983.

The IRGC administers this Act and the Exclusive Boat Gambling Act of 1989, which legalized riverboat casinos.

Casinos in Iowa

Iowa has nineteen commercial casinos and three American Indian tribal casinos.

The largest casino in Iowa is Prairie Meadows with 2,000 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs with 1,700 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Iowa

The nineteen commercial casinos in Iowa are:

1. Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, 132 miles west of Des Moines.
2. Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington, 78 miles southwest of Des Moines near the Illinois border.
3. Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, 72 miles north of Davenport near the Illinois border.
4. Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, 135 miles north of Des Moines near the Minnesota border.
5. Draft Kings at Casino Queen in Marquette, 131 miles northwest of Davenport near the Wisconsin border.
6. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, 291 miles northwest of Des Moines near the northwest corner of Minnesota.
7. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City, 200 miles northwest of Des Moines near the Nebraska border.
8. Harrah’s Casino & Hotel Council Bluffs, 133 miles west of Des Moines.
9. Horseshoe Council Bluffs, 131 miles west of Des Moines.
10. Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, 54 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids.
11. Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, 30 miles west of Des Moines.
12. Lakeside Hotel Casino in Osceola, 48 miles south of Des Moines.
13. Prairie Meadows in Altoona, 11 miles west of Des Moines.
14. Q Casino in Dubuque, 73 miles north of Davenport.
15. Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport.
16. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, 39 miles south of Cedar Rapids.
17. Wild Rose Casino & Resort Clinton, 37 miles northeast of Davenport near the Illinois border.
18. Wild Rose Casino & Resort Emmetsburg, 165 miles northwest of Des Moines.
19. Wild Rose Casino & Resort Jefferson, 65 miles northwest of Des Moines.

Tribal Casinos in Iowa

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The three tribal casinos in Iowa are:

1. Blackbird Bend Casino in Onawa, 35 miles southeast of Sioux City near the Nebraska border.
2. Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama, 64 miles northeast of Des Moines.
3. WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, 27 miles south of Sioux City near the Nebraska border.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Iowa slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Iowa is:

• North: Minnesota Slots
• East: Wisconsin Slots and Illinois Slots
• South: Missouri Slots
• West: Nebraska Slots and South Dakota Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Iowa.

Our Iowa Slots Facebook Community

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Iowa? If so, join our Iowa slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.

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There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in Iowa. Join us!

Payouts and Returns in Iowa

Iowa’s state tribal compacts with its three tribes with casinos have minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits of 80% and 99% of the amount wagered. However, Iowa’s tribal casinos do not offer return statistics.

Iowa’s commercial casinos do not have theoretical payout limits. However, the IRGC makes return statistics available, an average for the last three months, at Casino Payback Percentages.

For the last three months ending January 2021, the highest return went to Prairie Meadows at 91.7%. The lowest return went to Lakeside at 89.3%.

Furthermore, under Gaming Revenue Reports, the IRGC shares casino hold percent in line item “Slot Revenue Percentage” which, when subtracted from 100%, equals the more commonly understood player win percent.

The January 2021 monthly player win% for Iowa’s commercial casinos are:

1. Ameristar: 90.99%
2. Catfish Bend: 90.62%
3. Diamond Jo in Dubuque: 90.16%
4. Diamond Jo in Northwood: 90.75%
5. Draft Kings at Casino Queen: 90.06%
6. Grand Falls: 91.38%
7. Hard Rock Sioux City: 90.42%
8. Harrah’s Council Bluffs: 89.88%
9. Horseshoe Council Bluffs: 89.52%
10. Isle Bettendorf: 89.92%
11. Isle Waterloo: 89.80%
12. Lakeside: 89.41%
13. Prairie Meadows: 91.83%
14. Q Casino: 90.24%
15. Rhythm City: 90.31%
16. Riverside: 90.66%
17. Wild Rose – Clinton: 90.84%
18. Wild Rose – Emmetsburg: 90.89%
19. Wild Rose – Jefferson: 90.30%

These Gaming Revenue Reports also provides return statistics by slot machine denomination each month for each commercial casino.

Summary of Iowa Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Iowa slot machine casino gambling consists of 23 casinos including four tribal casinos.

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Annual Progress in Iowa Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs with 1,588 machines dropped to third largest casino in Iowa, supplanted by Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs with its 1,700 slot machines.

Furthermore, these casinos underwent new management as indicated by name changes to the casino property:

• Casino Queen Marquette became Draft Kings at Casino Queen.
• Isle of Capri Casino Waterloo became Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.

The Cobblestone Hotel at the Wild Rose Casino & Resort sustained significant damage during a recent storm and remains closed indefinitely.

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By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC