Here’s everything you need to know about gambling and sweepstakes in Iowa.
The “Home of the caucuses” has a long and uncomplicated history of gambling, as you’ll soon find out. Unfortunately, sweepstakes casinos have still not entered the state books. Everything you need to know about the IA gambling laws, penalties, and expectations is below.
Long story short, the state of Iowa had to permit gambling in the 1970s after a busted gambling event involving a local priest and a lot of alcohol (more on that later). Although casinos have become a significant source of income for the state, little progress has been made since.
What we mean by that is an apparent lack of regulations regarding online gambling. The government’s only step forward after the 1970s was the legalization of online sports betting in 2019. All other forms of online gambling for money are still illegal in Iowa.
According to the state code, redeeming a cash prize after placing a wager at an online casino is against the law. You’re breaking the code whenever you “participate in a game for any sum of money or other property of any value” or “make any bet” with an unlicensed casino operator.
The good news is that the state of Iowa has never prosecuted an individual for illegal gambling. The bad news is that that could happen anytime the government enforces the law. The penalty for unlawful gambling in IA ranges from a $10,000 fine to imprisonment.
Officially, you could be charged with a serious misdemeanor if you are what the state calls a “low-stake first offender” or with a class C felony for a third offense, especially if a lot of money is involved. Considering all that, we wouldn’t recommend gambling with the law in Iowa.
Since there are no state-operated online casinos in Iowa, all illegal gambling activity on the internet is tied to offshore sites. Another reason to avoid offshore operators is they are often unregulated and dishonest. Moreover, since they are illegal in IA, you won’t be able to sue them.
Fortunately, all these legal aspects don’t mean you can’t play online sweepstakes casino games for fun. Sweepstakes casinos are very much legal in Iowa because they don’t require a deposit, and some offer cash prizes that won’t get you in trouble with the law. The only illegal sweepstakes casino in Iowa is b spot.
Never underestimate Iowa. In addition to being an agricultural force and a weary traveler’s darling, the Hawkeye State was among the first to embrace the gambling culture. It legalized games of chance and skill in 1972 after a priest was arrested for hosting a gambling church picnic.
Compared to Nevada, the first US state to allow gambling in 1931, Iowa doesn’t stand out as progressive. Still, historically, Iowans did make some bold moves regarding gambling. They were faster to adopt gambling than New Jersey and did so 15 years before their neighbors.
In 1989, Iowa entered the history books as the first state to legalize riverboat gambling. These gambling houses on the water were a staple in the 19th century, and they continued to rule the market until the first casinos started to pop up on Iowa fields and nearby cities in the early 1990s.
Modern-day Iowa has around 20 government-approved land-based casinos, four of which Native American operators run, so it belongs to the golden middle. The only neighboring state with a more vibrant casino culture than Iowa is South Dakota, which has more than 40 establishments.
The state of Iowa made its first moves toward the legalization of online gambling along with many other US states in 2019 when the US Supreme Court decided to axe the nationwide Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and allow states to regulate sportsbooks themselves.
We don’t recommend taking anyone’s word for granted when gambling and law are concerned. Numerous online casinos already operate in gray areas of the US legal system, and new platforms multiply daily. Always check your state’s codes and the casino’s legality before you roll the dice.
Find the current governing laws regulating land-based casinos and online gambling in Iowa in the following codes. Please take the time to at least comb through them:
Most of the ~20 government-approved land-based casinos in Iowa are retail casinos that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission regulates. Iowa has four legal tribal casinos (all on reservation land), which the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 regulates.
Iowa has some pretty good retail casinos, many famous for their casino game variety. The law allows anything from sports betting to lottery, so it’s only natural that Iowans would be looking for the same lineup at sweepstakes sites, too. Here is what they usually play.
Loved for their simplicity and potential for big payouts, sweepstakes slots machines have become a popular pastime activity in Iowa. Ranging from classic and themed to quirky, sweepstakes slots offer an excellent alternative to all those who can’t be bothered to go to a casino or those who prefer to play for fun.
You can find many slot machines at LuckyLand Slots and Gambino Slots.
In Iowa, blackjack is another crowd favorite, offering the option to play for money or tokens.. As far as the table games go, blackjack is relatively easy to learn and play. However, although players only have to focus on beating the dealer’s hand, many find it more enjoyable when the stakes are not high.
If blackjack is your game, go to Golden Hearts Games or Stake.us.
Poker attracts people from all walks of life, and hard-working Iowans are no exception. Since online poker is still illegal in the Hawkeye State, sweepstakes casinos give you a safe and exciting environment for practice. The most popular types of poker in Iowa are Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Look for your favorite poker games at High 5 casino and McLuck casino.
We have several suggestions if you’re looking for a fun new sweeps casino in IA. Ultimately, you’ll go where your favorite games are—and that’s OK. All legit sweepstakes sites are legal in Iowa. However, you should still stop and take a moment to look at every casino with a critical mindset.
Just because it’s unlikely that you will be prosecuted for playing in an unregulated online casino, it doesn’t mean that you should support operators who put money over players. Reputable casinos obtain licenses to provide safe gambling conditions and show integrity to players.
After you find a licensed sweeps site, some other factors you should consider are:
Compare Iowa with its closest neighbor states
The top-rated sweepstakes casinos in Iowa are Pulsz casino, Chumba casino, and WOW Vegas casino. Fortune Coins casino, High 5 casino, McLuck casino, Gambino Slots, and LuckyLand Slots follow closely behind them.
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state of Iowa. The state code forbids any online gambling activity requiring players to “participate in a game for any sum of money or other property of value” and “make any bet.” Sweepstakes can operate in Iowa because they don’t require a deposit to play or win cash prizes.
Most IA sweepstakes casinos are available throughout the US, so it is possible to access them outside the state. However, Iowans are discouraged from participating in offshore casinos since many of them are not properly licensed and regulated by US law.
You must be 21 or older to play on sweepstakes casino sites in Iowa.
Legal winnings from gambling in Iowa are taxed as income past a certain amount. The maximum tax deduction for gambling prizes in the state is 8.53%.
Sweepstakes casinos in Iowa offer many exciting bonuses and promotions. The most prevalent include welcome bonuses, refer-a-friend programs, loyalty clubs with exclusive perks, and daily login bonuses.
