Hereâs everything you need to know about gambling and sweepstakes in Iowa.
While you can play your favorite game for money everywhere in Iowa, doing so from the comfort of your home is still illegal. Itâs unclear when or if online gambling will ever be legal in the Hawkeye State, but there are exceptionsâcasinos like Pulsz, Chumba, and WOW Vegas.
Across 46 US states, Pulsz casino provides a recognizable sweepstakes experience., including the Heartland of America. Many Iowans visit Pulsz to play titles like Hot Triple Sevens and Hit the Gold, although there are more than 700 other slot machines and casino-style games.
Looking past its opulent lobby, Pulz casino also has decent online casino bonuses and exciting social media events. Many players also enjoy its mobile app, which is available on Android and iOS.
Players and critics have repeatedly named Chumba Americaâs best and friendliest social casino. Itâs not the biggest sweepstakes site on the internet, but it compensates for that with excellent games, generous bonus offers, fast payouts, and efficient support personnel.
It is also one of the few sweep coins casinos where you can cash out money prizes without breaking the law (more on that shortly). All in all, Chumba is among Iowaâs finest.
In Iowa, WOW Vegas casino is a popular destination for playing slots. Its lobby extends to over 700 titles and ranges from classics like Hot Hot Fruit to quirky themes like in Lobster Bobâs Crazy Crab Shack. Be warned that no table games are available at WOW Vegas, in case anyone asks.
This casino also takes the crown for the most welcoming bonus offer in the US, as every new player gets no fewer than 1.5 million WOW Coins and 34.4 Sweepstakes Coins gratis.
The âHome of the caucusesâ has a long and uncomplicated history of gambling, as youâll 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 governmentâs 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. Youâre breaking the code whenever you âparticipate in a game for any sum of money or other property of any valueâ or âmake any betâ 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 âlow-stake first offenderâ or with a class C felony for a third offense, especially if a lot of money is involved. Considering all that, we wouldnât 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 wonât be able to sue them.
Fortunately, all these legal aspects donât mean you canât play online sweepstakes casino games for fun. Sweepstakes casinos are very much legal in Iowa because they donât require a deposit, and some offer cash prizes that wonât 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 travelerâs 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 doesnât 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 donât recommend taking anyoneâs 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 stateâs codes and the casinoâs 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 itâs 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 canât 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 online 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 dealerâs 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 Holdâem and Omaha.
Look for your favorite poker games at High 5 casino and McLuck casino.
We have several suggestions if youâre looking for a fun new sweeps casino in IA. Ultimately, youâll go where your favorite games areâand thatâs 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 itâs unlikely that you will be prosecuted for playing in an unregulated online casino, it doesnât 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 âparticipate in a game for any sum of money or other property of valueâ and âmake any bet.â Sweepstakes can operate in Iowa because they donât 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.
