- Six sportsbooks in Iowa went live on August 15, 2019.
- Hard Rock Sioux City began construction of their retail sportsbook in June of 2019.
- The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission also approved sports betting at Riverside, Grand Falls, and Rhythm City Casino.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) finally approved sports betting operations at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sioux City during a meeting on Thursday.
The partnership is between Hard Rock Sioux City and Hard Rock International. The retail sportsbook is expected to go live by the middle of September, as reported by the Sioux City Journal. An online sports wagering app will launch at a later date.
“We’re able to move forward, and we need to basically have our internal controls gone through one more time for approval, and then have some of our other process tested,” said Mike Adams, Vice President of Hard Rock Sioux City to the Sioux City Journal.
“On the mobile application, this allows us to take the product we have and begin the testing phases with that, to go for approvals. We’re hopeful in the near future that we’ll have that as the next option as well,” said Adams.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was poised to be one of the first to launch an Iowa sportsbook when they submitted paperwork to the IRGC in early June. However, minor issues between them and their sports betting provider delayed their opening date.
Legal sports betting is now offered in 10 retail operations and four casinos have already launched state-wide mobile sports wagering apps. More are expected to join the growing list of gaming facilities looking to add this activity to their slew of amenities.
On Thursday, the IRGC also approved another major sports betting partnership.
“Riverside, Grad Falls, and Rhythm City – Those are the three Iowa-owned casinos located in Davenport, Riverside, and Larchwood – entered into an agreement with one of their corporate subsidiaries to conduct the advanced deposit sports wagering,” said Brian Ohorilko, Administrator for the IRGC to Radio Iowa.
There are 19 state-licensed casinos in Iowa and eighteen of them now have sports betting licenses. Tribal casinos can also operate sports betting parlors in the state and are looking to enter the industry as well. WinnaVegas Casino Resort and Blackbird Bend Casino are the two most likely to launch sportsbooks at some point this year.
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News tags: Blackbird Bend Casino | Brian Ohorilko | Hard Rock Hotel And Casino Sioux City | Iowa | Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission | Mike Adams | WinnaVegas Casino Resort
![Hasan Nabulsi](https://www.legalsportsbetting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hasan-profile.jpg)
– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.