- What States Are Online Poker Legal
- Iowa Online Betting
- Is Online Poker For Money Legal In Iowa
- Gambling Online
Iowa is home to 22 casinos, a state-run lottery and pari-mutuel wagering at two horse racetracks and greyhound parks. The state legalized sports betting in May 2019, going live with both retail and online and mobile sports betting in August2019.
Playing Poker Legally in Iowa Iowa laws do not specifically state that online poker is legal or illegal. Iowa decided to legalize the lottery and pari-mutuel betting around the same time in the.
- The mobile casino has taken the concept of personalized gaming to a whole new Online Poker Legal In Iowa level. Now you can play on the go 24×7 regardless of where you are. All you need is a smartphone that gives you Internet access via 3G, 4G, LTE, or Wi-Fi.
- Iowa was an early proponent for online poker, but it died back in 2012. While the state still hasn't regulated online poker, it did legalize and launch sports betting in 2019. The legalization took place in May and it went live in August. This is faster than most states who passed the laws in their books.
What Iowa does not have is legal, regulated online poker.
However, that doesn't mean you can't play online poker in Iowa on sites that operate under US sweepstakes laws.
Global Poker accepts Iowa poker players
Is online poker legal in Iowa?
In 2012, the Iowa Senate approved a bill legalizing online poker, but it died in the House. Another online poker bill died at the committee level in 2013. In 2014, Iowa lawmakers were monitoring legal online poker in New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada, to see what worked and if it could work in Iowa.
The plan was to consider another online poker bill in 2015, but that didn't happen. In fact, that plan to consider online poker legislation in the future was the last word on the subject from the Iowa Legislature.
Will Iowa ever regulate real money online poker?
It may have been almost a decade since online poker legislation had any traction in the legislature, but the issue is not completely dead. In fact, the launch of legal online sports betting in Iowa may breathe new life into it.
Hope lies in the possibility that legislators and stakeholders will see the new revenue that sports betting generates and reconsider allowing real money Iowa online poker sites.
Play legal online poker at sweepstakes sites
In the meantime, you can still play online poker in Iowa on sites that operate under US sweepstakes laws. Global Poker is one such sweepstakes poker site.
You can play what amounts to real money online poker tournaments and ring games on Global Poker, thanks to the sweepstakes model the site employs. This model dictates that Global operates as a sweepstakes contest rather than a cash poker site.
Global Poker accomplishes this by using two types of virtual currency. You can play with Gold Coins, but this currency has no real cash value. You can also play with Sweeps Coins. Global Poker will give these to you for free when you purchase Gold Coins. You can also win them on social media or write a request for Sweeps Coins to the Global Poker office.
The important point is that you can't buy these Sweeps Coins, which is how Global Poker is able to operate in Iowa under sweepstakes law. You can use Sweeps Coins to buy into Global Poker tournaments and ring games, and you can redeem any Sweeps Coins you win for cash prizes.
When you sign up as a new account holder, Global Poker will give you a $20 Gold Coin package, including 20 Sweeps Coins, for free. Additionally, as a new customer, you can buy a $40 value package for $20. The package includes 200,000 Gold Coins and comes with 40 free Sweeps Coins.
Free online poker games in Iowa
There are other online poker options in Iowa.
You can download several Android and iOS apps that let you play online poker for free. Plus, many of the world's most popular online poker operators let you download their software and play with play money.
You don't have to risk anything, but as we all know, no risk likely means no reward. Free-to-play apps and play money online poker can be a lot of fun, but the fact is you'll never win anything.
Free-to-play poker can also help you learn how to play the game. But as you'll quickly find out, with no stakes, the games feature no real strategy. Players hardly ever fold, and luck becomes a much bigger factor than skill.
Sweepstakes sites, such as Global Poker, operate under sweepstakes laws to ensure no purchase is necessary. That means you can play online poker on Global Poker in ring games and tournaments where you stand to win Sweeps Coins that you can turn into real cash prizes.
Online poker tournaments for real cash prizes
Global Poker runs a lot of online poker tournaments. If there isn't a new one starting, there likely will be in five or 10 minutes. The site has freerolls where you can win free Sweeps Coins and daily and weekly events with guaranteed Sweeps Coin prize pools.
The biggest of the bunch is the Sunday Scrimmage, a weekly hold'em tournament featuring a prize pool of 50,000 Sweeps Coins.
The most popular tournament formats are all there. Plus, you'll find seasonal tournament series where trophies and millions in guaranteed Sweeps Coin prize pools are up for grabs. This includes Global's annual GOAT series, Summer Series and Bounty Series, with past guaranteed prize pools of up to 1.1 million in Sweeps Coins.
Are offshore online poker sites safe?
While you may see advertisements online for offshore online poker sites in Iowa, you should be aware that your money isn't safe with these operators. These sites aren't regulated under federal laws, and could close overnight, taking your money with them. Should that ever happen, you'll have no legal recourse.
Regulation guarantees that your money is protected by state and federal laws. State regulation would make a significant difference for online poker players in Iowa. Until it comes, you're much better off playing at a site, such as Global Poker, which operate under recognized US laws.
Iowa poker laws
Iowa has legal live poker at licensed commercial and tribal casinos. All told, there are some 10 poker rooms offering cash games and tournaments across the state.
State law is clear in making it illegal for these casinos to run online poker games for real money within the state. In addition, Iowa outlaws betting or wagering on anything not specifically in accordance with the state gambling regulations that govern casinos and other gambling operations.
There was hope that legal online poker would come when the Iowa Senate passed an online poker bill in 2012, but that's as far as that bill went.
Live poker rooms in Iowa
Note: The following Iowa poker rooms may be closed or have limited hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catfish Bend Casino
- Address: 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, IA 52601
- Phone: 319-237-1200
Cash games and tournaments on five tables open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The plan was to consider another online poker bill in 2015, but that didn't happen. In fact, that plan to consider online poker legislation in the future was the last word on the subject from the Iowa Legislature.
Will Iowa ever regulate real money online poker?
It may have been almost a decade since online poker legislation had any traction in the legislature, but the issue is not completely dead. In fact, the launch of legal online sports betting in Iowa may breathe new life into it.
Hope lies in the possibility that legislators and stakeholders will see the new revenue that sports betting generates and reconsider allowing real money Iowa online poker sites.
Play legal online poker at sweepstakes sites
In the meantime, you can still play online poker in Iowa on sites that operate under US sweepstakes laws. Global Poker is one such sweepstakes poker site.
You can play what amounts to real money online poker tournaments and ring games on Global Poker, thanks to the sweepstakes model the site employs. This model dictates that Global operates as a sweepstakes contest rather than a cash poker site.
Global Poker accomplishes this by using two types of virtual currency. You can play with Gold Coins, but this currency has no real cash value. You can also play with Sweeps Coins. Global Poker will give these to you for free when you purchase Gold Coins. You can also win them on social media or write a request for Sweeps Coins to the Global Poker office.
The important point is that you can't buy these Sweeps Coins, which is how Global Poker is able to operate in Iowa under sweepstakes law. You can use Sweeps Coins to buy into Global Poker tournaments and ring games, and you can redeem any Sweeps Coins you win for cash prizes.
When you sign up as a new account holder, Global Poker will give you a $20 Gold Coin package, including 20 Sweeps Coins, for free. Additionally, as a new customer, you can buy a $40 value package for $20. The package includes 200,000 Gold Coins and comes with 40 free Sweeps Coins.
Free online poker games in Iowa
There are other online poker options in Iowa.
You can download several Android and iOS apps that let you play online poker for free. Plus, many of the world's most popular online poker operators let you download their software and play with play money.
You don't have to risk anything, but as we all know, no risk likely means no reward. Free-to-play apps and play money online poker can be a lot of fun, but the fact is you'll never win anything.
Free-to-play poker can also help you learn how to play the game. But as you'll quickly find out, with no stakes, the games feature no real strategy. Players hardly ever fold, and luck becomes a much bigger factor than skill.
Sweepstakes sites, such as Global Poker, operate under sweepstakes laws to ensure no purchase is necessary. That means you can play online poker on Global Poker in ring games and tournaments where you stand to win Sweeps Coins that you can turn into real cash prizes.
Online poker tournaments for real cash prizes
Global Poker runs a lot of online poker tournaments. If there isn't a new one starting, there likely will be in five or 10 minutes. The site has freerolls where you can win free Sweeps Coins and daily and weekly events with guaranteed Sweeps Coin prize pools.
The biggest of the bunch is the Sunday Scrimmage, a weekly hold'em tournament featuring a prize pool of 50,000 Sweeps Coins.
The most popular tournament formats are all there. Plus, you'll find seasonal tournament series where trophies and millions in guaranteed Sweeps Coin prize pools are up for grabs. This includes Global's annual GOAT series, Summer Series and Bounty Series, with past guaranteed prize pools of up to 1.1 million in Sweeps Coins.
Are offshore online poker sites safe?
While you may see advertisements online for offshore online poker sites in Iowa, you should be aware that your money isn't safe with these operators. These sites aren't regulated under federal laws, and could close overnight, taking your money with them. Should that ever happen, you'll have no legal recourse.
Regulation guarantees that your money is protected by state and federal laws. State regulation would make a significant difference for online poker players in Iowa. Until it comes, you're much better off playing at a site, such as Global Poker, which operate under recognized US laws.
Iowa poker laws
Iowa has legal live poker at licensed commercial and tribal casinos. All told, there are some 10 poker rooms offering cash games and tournaments across the state.
State law is clear in making it illegal for these casinos to run online poker games for real money within the state. In addition, Iowa outlaws betting or wagering on anything not specifically in accordance with the state gambling regulations that govern casinos and other gambling operations.
There was hope that legal online poker would come when the Iowa Senate passed an online poker bill in 2012, but that's as far as that bill went.
Live poker rooms in Iowa
Note: The following Iowa poker rooms may be closed or have limited hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catfish Bend Casino
- Address: 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, IA 52601
- Phone: 319-237-1200
Cash games and tournaments on five tables open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Diamond Jo Worth Casino
- Address: 777 Diamond Jo Lane, Northwood, IA 50459
- Phone: 641-323-7777
Cash games and tournaments on seven tables open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
- Address: 1415 Grand Falls Blvd., Larchwood, IA 51241
- Phone: 712-777-7777
Cash games and tournaments on eight tables open 24 hours.
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
- Address: 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, IA 51501
- Phone: 712-323-2500
Cash games and tournaments on 18 tables open 24 hours. The largest poker room in the state.
Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel
- Address: 1504 305th St., Tama, IA 52339
- Phone: 641-484-2108
Cash games and tournaments on 10 tables open 24 hours.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino
- Address: 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, IA 50009
- Phone: 515-967-1000
Cash games and tournaments on 11 tables open 24 hours.
Q Casino
- Address: 1855 Greyhound Park Road, Dubuque, IA 52001
- Phone: 563-582-3647
Cash games and tournaments on four tables open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
What States Are Online Poker Legal
- Address: 3184 Hwy. 22, Riverside, IA 52327
- Phone: 319-648-1234
Cash games and tournaments on 10 tables open 24 hours. No poker on Mondays.
Jumer's Casino & Hotel in Illinois
- Address: 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island, IL 61201
- Phone: 309-756-4600
This casino located along the Iowa-Illinois state line hosts cash games and tournaments on six tables open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Future of online poker in Iowa
Iowa Online Betting
Any hope for legal, real money online poker in Iowa likely depends on sports betting revenue in the state. Iowa recently launched legal online sports betting, and if the resulting revenue and taxes whet lawmakers' appetites, they could go searching for more online gambling revenue.
Online poker could be a palatable next step for the evolution of online gambling across the state.
There is a danger that if sports betting revenue is too good, lawmakers won't need to search for additional revenue sources, but the chances of that happening seem slim.
There's also a danger online poker could be ignored because it hasn't generated much in the way of revenue or tax revenue in the states that have legalized and regulated it. However, that seems unlikely in a state that already has legal casinos and poker rooms and isn't in the habit of ignoring even the smallest sources of tax revenue.
In the meantime, Global Poker still presents a viable option for online poker players in Iowa and it isn't going anywhere.
Not long ago, lawmakers in Iowa officially approved a bill to legalize and regulate sports betting. Many casinos in this state now offer sports betting options. This week, several major gambling operators started calling for online poker in Iowa to become regulated, as well.
Internet poker gambling is growing more popular than ever before. Based on Iowa's acceptance of sports betting, there's a very good chance that the state will begin regulating the online poker industry. Let's look at what to expect here.
Iowa's Gambling Laws Continue to Evolve
Gambling has taken place in Iowa for years. In 1991, lawmakers began allowing individual counties to vote on whether or not they want to allow casinos. Since that time, 20 casinos have opened in this state.
The horse race business is also booming in Iowa. There are three race tracks here, one of which acts as a 'racino,' offering horse racing odds and casino-style gaming options. Many locals head to these race tracks every single day.
In 2019, a new sports betting bill was introduced to the state legislature. It was quickly approved and lawmakers began planning on how to allow launch sports betting in the state. On August 15th, eight different casinos here began officially offering sports betting odds. Just two weeks later, the popular Diamond Jo Casino launched its sportsbook, as well.
Now, many are calling for online poker in Iowa to become legalized. There have been numerous attempts to legalize this industry yet they've all been pushed aside. With sports betting now legal, this may be the perfect time to start regulating Iowa's online poker market.
Online Poker in Iowa May Soon Become Legal
It's clear that politicians in Iowa are interested in expanding the state's gambling market. Sports betting is expected to bring the state millions of dollars in additional revenue every single year. Some major online gambling operators are now pushing for internet poker to be legal here.
There are a number of reasons why this may happen. First, poker is considered to be a game of skill. Under Iowa's set of gambling laws, games of skill can be wagered on. Many states have already legalized online poker. These states are profiting massively as a result.
Many feel that online poker will also help to bring more visitors to the state's land-based casinos. It's well-known that those new to poker prefer to make their wagers online to gain experience. As these players gain more experience, they will choose to play inside real poker rooms.
Yaniv Sherman, head of commercial development for 888, recently gave his take on legalized online poker in Iowa.
Is Online Poker For Money Legal In Iowa
'Absolutely, we think that poker is the next logical thing,' he said.
Online Gambling Continues to Grow More Popular in Iowa
Despite the fact that online gambling is not yet regulated in Iowa, many residents here choose to make their wagers online. Today, there are a huge number of amazing online casinos sites in IA. Most of these websites offer all major casino games including blackjack, slots, and poker games.
Gambling Online
One of the most popular sites to play online poker in Iowa is Bovada Casino. This site has gained a fantastic reputation for its safe payment options and a wide range of amazing games. It's a great website for those looking to try their hand at internet poker.
Lawmakers in this state recognize that many locals are gambling online. Unfortunately, there is no legal framework in place to collect money from this industry. Many gaming analysts predict this will change in the next few years.
We'll need to wait and see what lawmakers decide. There is clearly an interest in online gambling and several states now have fully-operating online gambling markets. Make sure to stay tuned for updates on this situation over the next few months!
