Poker Iowa

Iowa Poker Laws Iowa does have a considerable amount of regulated gambling, and does restrict legal gambling to what is set forth in the regulations under Title 3, Public Services and Regulation, Subtitle 4, Gambling, of which Chapters 99 through 99G deal with the specific gambling regulations in the state of Iowa.

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If you were to ask a random person off the street if they
think poker would be big in Iowa, they would probably give you a
blank stare. Even if this person was from Iowa the resultant
response would probably be the same. The state certainly isn’t
big on its poker. They do however have a few poker rooms in
their casinos and the Texas holdem poker seems alive and well.

The game of choice is of course no limit holdem, like in most
states. You’ll find some other games being played on the
weekends in some casinos, mostly Omaha and stud, with the odd
mixed game opening from time to time.

Comps are offered for players in most places and this is
quite often a bit more generous than in some of the major poker
states. Your best choices for good action packed games are
Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs and Riverside Casino.

List of Iowa Poker Rooms

Here is our compiled list of all the poker rooms you can find
in the state of Iowa:

Catfish Bend Casino

• Location: Burlington, IA
• Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4pm to midnight, Tuesday and
  Thursday 2pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday open 24 hours, and
  Sunday from 8am to 10pm
• Tables: 5
• Games: This poker room offers both tournaments and cash
  games. You’ll find daily no limit tournaments on Wednesday to
  Friday with two offered on Friday. The buy in ranged from $25 up
  to $125. For the cash players they spread $1 / $2 no limit
  holdem, $5 / $10 limit Omaha 8s or better and $2 / $10 Stud 8s
  or better. Usually it’s only the holdem game running.
• Ambience: This no smoking poker room has TVs on the walls and
  some of the tables have automatic shufflers to keep things
  moving. The room is well lit with wooden panelled walls and
  beige and brown tables and chairs. It’s a very nice place to
  play poker.
• Hospitality: You can earn comps while playing at the Catfish
  Bend Casino poker room at a rate of $1 per hour. They also offer
  cocktail service at the table.
• Players: You will find some decent competition in this casino
  with mostly regulars covering the tables outside of the busy
  hours. When it is busy, on weekends, you’ll find softer play and
  a lot more action. Mainly in the no limit holdem cash game. If
  you bring a decent game to the poker room you should be getting
  it in good a lot of the time.

Diamond Jo Casino Northwood

• Location: Northwood, IA
• Hours: Monday to Wednesday 12pm to 3am, Thursday to Saturday
  10am to close, and Sunday 10am to 3am
• Tables: 7
• Games: This room offers daily no limit holdem tournaments
  with buy in’s ranging from $30 to $65. They go dark on some
  Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. On top of this you’ll find
  $1 / $2 no limit holdem cash games always running with $2 / $5
  opening up on weekends.
• Ambience: The tables and chairs in this poker room are in
  great condition. The room is spacious and non-smoking plus they
  have TV’s on the walls to keep you entertained between hands.
• Hospitality: Players can earn comps in this room at a rate
  determined by how many hours they play in a month. If you play
  15 hours or less you’ll get 50 cents per hour, 16 to 30 hours
  will earn you 75 cents per hour and over 31 hours will earn you
  $1 per hour. You will also be served cocktails while you play.
• Players: The games here will be most filled with locals who
  think they are quite decent, but come on, this is Iowa. So if
  you come from a more poker savvy state you should be able to
  cash in at this place. For the record, Iowa is a great state
  with some excellent poker players. The dealers and players are
  very friendly and welcoming which is a necessity these days to
  keep poker alive.

Grand Falls Casino Resort

• Location: Larchwood, IA
• Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
• Tables: 8
• Games: For the cash players they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5
  no limit holdem, $2 / $10 spread limit Omaha 8s or better, and
  $2 / $10 stud 8s or better. No limit holdem and limit Omaha 8s
  or better tournaments are offered except on Tuesday and Friday.
  Omaha is played on Monday’s. The buy ins will range from $40 to
  $100.
• Ambience: This non-smoking poker room is well maintained and
  has TV’s on the walls to keep you covered. This new casino
  boasts nice beige walls and ceilings and green table felt tables
  with comfortable chairs.
• Hospitality: You can earn 50 cents in comps per hour played
  here through the Grand Falls Resort Club. They also offer food
  and cocktail service at the tables. A series of jackpots and
  promotions are also offered to push your dollars further.
• Players: You’ll come across a good mix of players here with
  some regulars and some recreational players. The play won’t be
  that solid, so if you bring a decent range and play book you
  should be able to do well. Expect lots of bluffing and big
  moves, like they show on ESPN from the big tournaments.

Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs

• Location: Council Bluffs, IA
• Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
• Tables: 18
• Games: Tournaments are held almost daily here with the
  exceptions being some Friday’s and Thursday’s. The game is
  usually no limit holdem with some crazy pineapple also. The buy
  in will range from $55 to $250 depending on the day. For the
  cash players they hold $1 / $3 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $3 /
  $6 limit holdem and $6 / $12 and $10 / $20 limit Omaha 8s or
  better games.
• Ambience: This classically designed poker room has green felt
  tables and brown chairs within a wooden panelled room with brown
  and beige tones. It’s a great poker environment which just feels
  like a natural place to play. The room is non-smoking and has
  TV’s to keep you entertained.
• Hospitality: Through the Total Rewards program you can earn
  comps here at 50 cents per hour played. IF you play over 20
  hours in a week you get a bonus $12 in comps. They also serve
  food at the table and cocktails are available as well. The poker
  room runs various bonuses and jackpots, including for high hands
  and bad beats, to push your rake and drop dollars further.
• Players: The room will mostly be filled with regulars who
  know each other and play a different game when they are in pots
  together. Your best bet is to visit during busier hours when the
  regulars don’t dominate the tables as much. This way you’ll
  often find softer tables and weaker, sometimes inebriated,
  players.

Isle Casino Waterloo

• Location: Waterloo, IA
• Hours: Friday to Tuesday from 2pm, Closed Wednesday and
  Thursday
• Tables: 4
• Games: Only cash games take place in this casino with the
  games being $1 / $2 no limit holdem, and $1 / $2 and $5 / $10
  pot limit Omaha high.
• Ambience: This small poker room features TV’s on the walls,
  automatic shufflers on the tables and is non-smoking for player
  comfort.
• Hospitality: Players can earn 60 cents per hour in comps in
  this poker room through the Fan Club rewards program. Cocktails
  and food are also available at the table and they run some
  jackpots and bonuses to keep you coming back.
• Players: You’ll find mostly weaker regulars in this poker
  room with the game loosening up a bit on weekend evenings. If
  you pick your times and spots you should do well here, although
  it’s not really worth going out of your way for.

Lady Luck Casino Marquette

• Location: Marquette, IA
• Hours: Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 3am, Sunday 11am to
  11pm
• Tables: 2
• Games: This small poker area doesn’t offer any tournament
  play and only spreads $3 / $6 limit holdem.
• Ambience: This non-smoking poker room poker area features
  TV’s that are viewable from most seats and automatic shufflers
  on the tables.
• Hospitality: You can earn comps while you play here and
  cocktails and food are available from the table, which is always
  a good thing.
• Players: Weak amateurs and regulars are the most common
  players you’ll come across here. While the vibe should be
  friendly and welcoming the play will be slow and soft. If you
  have patience and like a slow limit game then this could be your
  jam. If not you’ll find much better value elsewhere.

Meskwaki Casino

• Location: Tama, IA
• Hours: Monday to Wednesday from 2pm, Thursday from 10am,
  Friday from 8am, Saturday and Sunday from 10am
• Tables: 15
• Games: You’ll find almost daily no limit holdem tournaments
  in this poker room with the buy in ranging from $25 up to $55.
  They sometimes go dark on Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s,
  so call ahead to check. For the cash players they spread $1 / $2
  no limit holdem all the time and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $1 /
  $2 mixed and $4 / $8 limit Omaha 8s or better on weekends.
• Ambience: This poker room is quite small and no smoking. It
  features TV’s that are viewable from most seats at the table.
  The tables and chairs are well maintained and comfortable.
• Hospitality: Comps can be earned by players at a rate of $1
  per hour. If you play 4 hours you can get a discounted hotel
  room rate. On top of this they serve cocktails at the table. If
  you want food you’ll have to leave the table.
• Players: This room is truly dominated by regulars who know
  each other and the staff. They don’t really go out of their way
  to welcome you or make it a fun environment. We’ve also heard
  reports of some unfair promotions that favor regulars in the
  tournaments.

Mystique Casino

• Location: Dubuque, IA
• Hours: Wednesday 11am to 3am, Thursday from 4pm, Friday from
  10am, Saturday from 11am, Sunday 11am to 3am, closed on Monday
  and Tuesday
• Tables: 4
• Games: On the days they are open except Saturday, they run a
  no limit holdem tournament with a buy in ranging from $40 to
  $80. They also spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $5 /
  $10 limit Omaha 8s or better, $6 / $12 and $10 / $20 mixed and
  $2 / $10 stud 8s or better.
• Ambience: This no-smoking poker area features TV’s on the
  wall and automatic shufflers. The red table felt stands out
  nicely against the blue and black chairs, in this nicely
  designed poker area just off from the main casino floor.
• Hospitality: You can earn comps here through the MyClub
  program at 50 cents per hour. On top of this they service
  cocktails and food at the table to keep you going strong.
• Players: The action isn’t great in this poker room and you’ll
  struggle to find value here in any games. We’ve heard that staff
  aren’t that great too which can kill the game in so many ways.
  Hopefully they improve this soon or the room will probably
  disappear.

Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino

• Location: Altoona, IA
• Hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 8am to 4am, Thursday to
  Saturday open 24 hours
• Tables: 11
• Games: Tournaments are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and
  Sunday. The game is no limit holdem and the buy in ranges from
  $35 to $70. On top of this they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no
  limit holdem, $5 / $10 mixed and $3 / $6 limit holdem.
• Ambience: This basic poker room is no-smoking and has some
  TV’s viewable from the tables. The chairs aren’t super
  comfortable but the tables are well maintained. Overall it’s a
  decent playing environment.
• Hospitality: Comps can be earned here at the measly rate of
  10 cents per hour through the Prairie Gold Club rewards program.
  You can also get food at the table and will be provided with
  cocktail service while playing.
• Players: This room is very friendly and welcoming,
  particularly to visitors, which is a really good thing. Some
  other rooms in Iowa should take note of this. You’ll find lots
  of action on friendly tables with decent play.

Rhythm City Casino Resort

• Location: Davenport, IA
• Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
• Tables: 8
• Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held on Monday’s and
  Wednesday’s at 6pm with a buy in of $30 and $40 respectively. On
  the last Sunday of each month they also offer a $100 buy in no
  limit holdem tournament. This poker room also spreads $1 / $2,
  $2 / $5 and $5 / $10 no limit holdem and $3 / $6 limit holdem.
• Ambience: This no-smoking poker room features TV’s on the
  walls and automatic shufflers on most tables. The red felt
  tables are well maintained with comfortable chairs. This means
  you can sit in on long cash or tournament sessions without too
  much discomfort.
• Hospitality: Comps can be earned here through the E-Club!
  rewards program and you can also get cocktails and food at the
  table.
• Players: You’ll find a mixed bag of players here with the
  best value being on a Friday or Saturday night. Locals will
  cover most of the tables at other times, however, they are
  friendly and welcoming meaning the vibe is always good.

Riverside Casino

• Location: Riverside, IA
• Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
• Tables: 14
• Games: The poker room at Riverside Casino offers a daily
  tournament rotating between no limit holdem and limit Omaha 8s
  or better. The buy in ranges from $30 to $50. For the cash
  players they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $3 / $6
  limit Omaha 8s or better and $3 / $6 limit holdem.
• Ambience: This no-smoking room is clean, comfortable and
  spacious offering TV’s on the walls to keep you covered between
  hands. Unfortunately they don’t have automatic shufflers on the
  tables at this stage.
• Hospitality: You can earn comps in this poker room through
  the Riverside Resort Club rewards program. On top of this they
  offer cocktails and food at the table to keep you grinding
  longer. They also run a bad beat jackpot.
• Players: The play is quite soft here so you will need
  patience to do well. The variance could be quite high as you’ll
  get called down, and quite often experience bad beats, in many
  hands. Even still, you should be profitable in the long run if
  you ride out the variance here. The dealers and management go
  out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.

Wild Rose Casino

• Location: Clinton, IA
• Hours: Friday and Saturday only from 6:30pm
• Tables: 1
• Games: You’ll only find a $1 / $2 no limit holdem cash game
  running here with no tournaments offered.
• Ambience: This is just one poker table in the casino area. No
  smoking is permitted at the table.
• Hospitality: You can get food and cocktails from the table
  and you’ll also be awarded with comps based on your play. These
  can be earned through the Wild Times Club rewards program.
• Players: It’s all down to luck when you play poker at the
  Wild Rose Casino. Not in respect to whether you win or lose, but
  in regards to what type of players you’ll find at the table.

WinnaVegas Casino

• Location: Sloan, IA
• Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday open from 10am,
  Saturday and Sunday from 11am. Closed on Thursday
• Tables: 8
• Games: This poker room features a no limit holdem tournament
  each day they are open. They have a free-roll on Sunday’s with
  other tournaments having a buy in between $25 and $50. On top of
  this they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $3 no limit holdem, $2 / $10
  and $4 / $10 mixed and $2 / $10 stud 8s or better cash games.
• Ambience: It’s all about the browns and yellows in this
  spacious poker room. The brown table felt is well maintained and
  clashes brilliantly with the mustard yellow walls. The tables
  and chairs are comfortable and the room is non-smoking. TV’s are
  also viewable from most seats.
• Hospitality: You can earn comps while you play here. Food and
  cocktails are also offered at the table for players. They also
  offer bad beat and high hand jackpots, as well as some
  promotions for free chips on weekends.
• Players: You’ll find a lot of friendly regulars in this poker
  room with more visitors and amateurs appearing on weekend
  evenings. If you want value and can put up with the odd bad
  beat, visit on Saturday and Sunday. If you fare better against
  solid players go mid-week.

Conclusion

While Iowa isn’t the Texas holdem hot bed that many states
are, you can still find a few good games in the state. In
addition, you can still find plenty of private and home games if
you know where to look. By using this handy Iowa Texas holdem
guide you know where to find the public poker rooms, which is a
good place to start your search when looking for your next game.

Important IA Notes

• Poker players from IA can play at offshore sites legally
• Several bills have been introduced legalizing online poker
• Land-based poker is legal throughout Iowa
• There are many live poker options for such a small state
• Outlook for iPoker regulation in the state is strong

“Reviewed by Chuck Humphrey – 50 year Gaming Law Practitioner”

Despite attempts being made, the legislature of Iowa has been unable to legalize online poker in the state thus far. Therefore, under the current state laws it’s deemed illegal to operate an online poker website in Iowa but it’s still federally legal to play at offshore sites. Players in Iowa do engage in legal online poker, as do players in the rest of the United States.

Future Outlook of Online Poker in Iowa – Estimated date of legalization: 2019-2020

The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in Iowa on a state law level. It is currently already legal on a Federal level. This graph monitors the current rise or fall of expected legalization.

Recent Activity
In March 2012, the Iowa Senate passed Senate File 2275 by a vote of 29-20. The bill sought to legalize intrastate online poker, but not online casino gambling. Only companies with land casino gaming licenses, such as riverboat casinos, tribal casinos and racetracks, would be eligible for online poker licenses. However, in the Iowa House the bill was not even considered for a vote[B] because of lack of support. A similar bill Senate Study Bill 1068[C] was introduced in January 2013 Iowa legislative session. Ultimately, the sponsors of the bill realized that the Republican controlled House would not consider it, so they let it die.

Despite the double failure, the issue of online poker is being discussed. Lobbyist Matt Eide explained the situation as follows. He said that there was a two-fold need for legalizing online poker. The first was regulatory. A study[D] undertaken by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC)[E], the oversight body for gambling in Iowa, reported that online poker at unregulated sites does occur in Iowa. There was a need to bring it under regulation to protect the players from unscrupulous operators. The second need was revenue oriented.

An IRGC study showed that online poker could bring in up to $13 million in state tax revenue. Eide pointed out that Iowa was more conservative than New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware which have legalized online poker. When a few other states also legalize online poker, the conservatives in the Iowa legislature will have to rethink the issue.

In March, 2015, the Iowa State Daily authored an op-ed[F] which called for legalize gambling in the state. It called for individual liberty and for allowing “consenting adults” to do what they please with their own money. It’s a step in the right direction and another good sign for momentum for iGaming regulation in the next few years.

Current Gambling Laws in Iowa

In the Iowa Code gambling is covered under Chapter 725 (Vice)[G] of Title XVI – Criminal Law and Procedure. Section 725.7[H] defines illegal gaming and betting. Clause (1) of the section states:

“1. Except as permitted in chapters 99B [bingo] and 99D [racetracks], a person shall not do any of the following: (a.) Participate in a game for any sum of money or other property of any value; (b.) Make any bet; (c.) For a fee, directly or indirectly, give or accept anything of value to be wagered or to be transmitted or delivered for a wager to be placed within or without the state of Iowa; (d.) For a fee, deliver anything of value which has been received outside the enclosure of a racetrack licensed under chapter 99D to be placed as wagers in the pari-mutuel pool or other authorized systems of wagering; (e.) Engage in bookmaking.” Clause (2) of the section classifies the violations as misdemeanor, aggravated misdemeanor, class D felony and class C felony. The classification depends on the frequency of the offense and the amount involved. The penalties are specified elsewhere in the Iowa Code.

Chapter 99 of Title III Public Services and Regulation covers specific forms of gambling, including charitable gambling, pari-mutuel wagering, state lottery, riverboat gambling and casinos. Tribal casinos are not covered in the Iowa Code. Section 99B.1 lists important definitions.

History of Gambling in Iowa

Land Based Poker in Iowa

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Home poker games are illegal in Iowa because they are not excluded from the general illegality of gambling. Under Section 99B.9 any gambling is illegal unless carried out under a license.

However, under Section 99B.6 gambling, including poker, is permitted in a licensed beer or liquor establishment that holds a social gambling license, provided that a stringent set of conditions are met in totality. The holder of the license or his agent does not participate in, sponsor, conduct or act as cashier, except as a participant while playing on the same basis as every other participant. Only social games, as listed under Section 99B.12 (2), are permitted. The participants must be 21 years or older, and cannot win or lose more than $50 in a 24-hour period. This social gambling license only costs $150 and is good for two years.

Also, under Section 99B.7B poker tournaments, along with other specified card game tournaments, are permitted to be conducted by qualified organizations for veterans, subject to the listed conditions being met.

Certain games are permitted for charity in Iowa, but they do not include live poker tournaments.

Apart from the social gambling exceptions described above, live poker is allowed only at Indian casinos, racetrack casinos and riverboat casinos.

Gambling Laws in Iowa

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Online gambling is not permitted in Iowa. Casinos are allowed at Indian reservations, racetracks and riverboats. Other forms of legally permitted gambling are pari-mutuel wagering, state lottery and charitable gambling.

In Iowa, standalone land casinos are allowed only on Indian reservations under compacts between the tribes and the states. Iowa has three reservation casinos[I]. They are Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama, WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan and Blackbird Bend Casino in Onawa. All the casino games allowed at riverboat casinos and racetracks are permitted at Iowa reservation casinos. In addition these casinos are also allowed to offer commercial style bingo.

Iowa Poker Games

Pari-mutuel wagering is covered by Chapter 99D of the Iowa Code. The Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act passed in 1983 allows wagering on dogs and horses. There are two greyhound tracks in Iowa. They are the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Run Casino in Council Bluffs and the Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino in Dubuque. Both greyhound tracks offer live and off track betting.

Gambling Iowa City

The only horse track in Iowa is Prairie Meadows in Altoona, which offers live race betting and also off track betting on simulcast races. When casino gambling expanded in Iowa, both greyhound and horse racetracks were allowed to offer slot machines, video poker, live poker and table games like roulette, craps and blackjack. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has oversight on pari-mutuel wagering in the state.

The state lottery is covered by Chapter 99G of the Iowa Code. The earlier law under Chapter 99E was repealed in 2003 and the Iowa Lottery Authority Act enacted. The Iowa Lottery[J] has oversight of the lottery operations in the state. The Iowa lottery was legally approved in April 1985 and began selling lottery tickets in August 1985. Iowa residents can buy pull-tab, instant-scratch and lotto games at more than 2,500 locations throughout the state. Iowa has joined multi state Lotto drawings including Powerball and Mega Millions.

Charitable gambling is covered under Chapter 99B, which is Games of Skill or Chance, and Raffles. It is under the oversight of the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals[K]. Eligible organizations can conduct bingo games for charitable purposes after applying for and receiving a license from the above authority. The conditions of eligibility are laid out in Section 99B.2.

Games of skill or chance (not including poker or casino games) and raffles may be lawfully conducted under an Amusement Concession by obtaining a license for the same and adhering to the stipulated conditions. The conditions include that cash prizes are not awarded and merchandise awarded as prizes is not repurchased. Games of skill or chance, similarly, may be conducted under an Annual Game Night Concession, but limited cash prizes may be given.

Riverboat gambling is covered by Chapter 99F of the Iowa Code and is conducted under the oversight of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The complete list of riverboat casinos is available here [L].

In 1989, Iowa became the first American state to legalize riverboat casinos. Counties were permitted to hold referendums to decide whether to allow casinos. Eight counties initially passed casino riverboats. In April 1, 1991, three riverboat casinos opened in Iowa. Till 1994, the boats had to leave the dock before gambling could commence and there was a $200 loss limit per excursion. When the neighboring state of Illinois introduced unrestricted gambling, Iowa was compelled to drop the loss limit and allow riverboats to stay dockside. As of now, there are no bet limits and all standard casino games are allowed. These include slot machines, video poker, live poker and table games.

Poker Ia

Author:Joseph Falchetti (twitter)
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References and Citations