The Iowa Gaming Association (IGA) continually monitors legislative issues regarding the gaming industry in Iowa and throughout the country. We advocate for not only what is in the best interest of the 18 state regulated commercial casinos, but also for Iowans.
Licensed casino gaming is a closely regulated industry intended to uphold a high level of standards. In May of 1983, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission was created by the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act to have full jurisdiction over and supervise all race meetings and gambling excursions. The mission of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is to administer the pari-mutuel wagering and riverboat gambling laws and agency rules, to protect the public, and to guard the integrity of the gambling participants as well as the racetracks' and riverboats' gambling operations.
The Iowa General Assembly website provides current information, such as the access to the latest calendar year for the legislative session, schedules, bills, legislative laws and other related links and publications.
The following links provide more information on laws for Iowa's gaming industry. Chapters 99D and 99F relate to commercial racetracks and riverboat casinos. The others provide information on more general gaming issues.
Referendum Vote Process
Citizens in the counties seeking gaming operations are required to vote on new licenses and expansions, called referendum votes. A referendum vote is also required every eight years to continue gaming operations. This process was enacted in March 1994 as a part of legislation that, if approved by a local referendum vote, allows for unlimited wagering and elimination of loss limits for the expansion of gaming in counties where commercial gaming operations exist.
Currently, there are 18 licensed commercial casinos operating in Iowa (all are IGA members). There are also three Native American casinos that are unaffected by any required referendum vote because they are under a different sovereign nation regulatory structure.