Legal sports betting in Iowa is finally here.
The 11th state to launch regulated wagering since June 2018, and the third to do so this calendar year, Iowa kicked off its industry with a bang Thursday, August 15.
All told, eight casinos expect to open retail sportsbooks throughout the day, starting with several properties that began taking bets at noon. To boot, seven properties are prepared to offer online wagering, four of which intend to do so Thursday.
Which casinos have retail sports betting?
Brian Ohorilko, administrator for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, told Legal Sports Report that he believes eight properties “will be ready to go” with brick-and-mortar sportsbooks Thursday.
Those casinos include:
- Prairie Meadows
- Lakeside
- Isle Waterloo
- Isle Bettendorf
- Rhythm City
- Riverside
- Ameristar Council Bluffs
- Catfish Bend
Ohorilko noted that the remaining ten casinos in the state that applied for sports be licenses could go online by the NFL season, with many targeting the final few weeks of August.
Prairie Meadows Sportsbook
One of four William Hill properties in the state, the Prairie Meadows sportsbook opened with special hours of operation through its first weekend:
- Thursday, Aug. 15: noon to midnight
- Friday, Aug. 16: 10 a.m. to midnight
- Saturday, Aug. 17: 8 a.m. to midnight
- Sunday, Aug. 18: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Starting next week, however, the brick-and-mortar will move to more regular hours:
- Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight
- Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Sunday, 8 a.m. to midnight
Today is the day at @PrairieMeadows!
Come to the Grand Opening and be among the first to bet in Iowa at 12pm. pic.twitter.com/zh0kNwLznD
— William Hill Iowa (@WilliamHillIowa) August 15, 2019
Isle Waterloo Sportsbook
We’re excited and getting ready for tomorrow @IsleCasinoWT! pic.twitter.com/G5f2eFveNN
— William Hill Iowa (@WilliamHillIowa) August 14, 2019
Isle Bettendorf Sportsbook
Be a part of history today, come join us at 11:45 AM for the ribbon cutting ceremony as we go live with sports betting at noon! We're excited to kick off sports betting with the best in the nation – William Hill Sports Book. Only at Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf. pic.twitter.com/8bu96Gjvab
— Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf (@IsleCasinoBT) August 15, 2019
Ameristar Council Bluffs Sportsbook
Starting Friday, August 16, the Penn National property will adopt the following hours of operation:
- Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Catfish Bend Sportsbook
Which casinos offer online sports betting?
As Legal Sports Report reported, Ohorilko indicated that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission aimed to issue online licenses and give the green light to launch betting apps by Wednesday.
While seven properties intend to roll out online sportsbooks, there is not much variety with bookmaking partners.
Four casinos have aligned with William Hill US, all of which are expected to roll out betting apps Thursday:
- Prairie Meadows
- Lakeside
- Isle Waterloo
- Isle Bettendorf
Additionally, Rhythm City, Riverside and Grand Falls have teamed with Bet.Works as online partners and await launch.
Per LSR, Iowa residents could visit casinos to begin signing up for mobile wagering accounts earlier this week. The state gaming commission approved William Hill and Bet.Works to start accepting sign-ups for advance deposits. It also did so for future betting apps via Catfish (partnered with PointsBet) and Ameristar (whose parent company, Penn National, recently entered into wide-ranging partnerships).
