While Iowa isn’t the Texas holdem hot bed that many states are, you can still find a few good games in the state. In addition, you can still find plenty of private and home games if you know where to look. By using this handy Iowa Texas holdem guide you know where to find the public poker rooms, which is a. PROMOTIONS dubuQue’s destination for fun. At Q Casino there’s never a dull moment. Between our great deals, promotions, and excellent customer service, you’ll never want to leave!
Located smack dab in the middle of America’s Heartland, Iowa is probably better known for its thriving livestock industry than for real money legal poker and gambling. But make no mistake, Iowans love the betting action. So much so, that IA state officials have legalized all five forms of live real-money gambling wagering, including lawful real cash poker games like Texas Hold’em.
That said, Iowa has yet to pass legislation that would legalize Internet poker and casino gambling. But it looks like even the legit poker website situation is about to change, not this year but next. Until then, residents of IA, the Hawkeye State, have the state’s nearly 20 commercial and tribal casinos and real money poker gambling rooms to keep them busy at betting.
You’ll be happy to know that Hawkeye State gamblers can sign up for any of our real money US poker sites.
Iowa Won’t Legalize Online Poker until at Least 2015
Quick Jump
- 5 The Facts
.Once the IA gambling lawmakers feel they’ve gotten a better handle on what works and what doesn’t in relation to real money poker websites, Iowa’s state officials should be more aptly prepared to decide on the language of a future Internet poker betting bill. Or at least that’s the plan.
Presumably, the next iteration of the legal Internet poker bill will be brought before Iowa legislators in 2015. We say next iteration because it will be the third time state officials have considered the idea of a regulated real money online poker in IA. In 2012, an Internet gaming and poker website bill relating to real cash gambling and betting was passed by the State Senate 29-20, yet failed to reach the House in time for consideration [3]. The next year, a second Internet poker bill sponsored by State Senator Jeff Danielson (D-Cedar Rapids) fell in a subcommittee, only weeks after receiving preliminary approval. So, it was goodbye to betting real money at legit poker websites for Iowa residents after all.
Latest Iowa Poker News
Sheldon Adelson will be courted once again by prominent 2016 GOP presidential candidates during next month's Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Spring Leadership Meeting.…
Iowa Gaming Association head announces that the state will not work up an iGaming bill in 2014, no online poker regulation in Iowa until 2015.…
The online poker bill in the Iowa House may be delayed due to some moral objections.…
An online poker bill for the state of Iowa is again being discussed which would see land casinos in the state being allowed to offer online poker.…
Although an online poker bill failed to gain support in the Iowa House of Representatives last year, Sen. Jeff Danielson has introduced a new bill this year.…
Can Players from Iowa Play Online Poker?
Alright, so online poker isn’t regulated in Iowa yet because the IA lawmakers haven’t made up their minds on Internet poker real cash betting yet. But don’t let that get you down. You can still play real money poker on any of the US friendly poker websites, they are all welcoming players from Iowa looking to bet on games like Texas Hold’em poker. The biggest problem they face is choosing which Internet poker network to try out first.
Other states’ residents, Kentucky’s for one, do not have it as easy as IA citizens when it comes to registering an account on an offshore real cash poker website, but Iowans are among those who should have no problem creating a username on Internet poker websites, depositing funds to play poker for real money and finding a juicy real cash game or multi-table poker website tournament for betting in.
- U. S. Poker Site
- Compatibillity
- Editor Rating
- Deposit Bonus
- Very player friendly
- Generous cashback
- Great mobile play
Is Online Poker Legal in Iowa?
Unsurprisingly, Iowa’s gambling and betting statues make no mention of online poker or Internet poker websites IA residents can access from their computers. The Internet is mentioned once, but it’s in relation to the lottery and not real money poker gambling.
It follows that the legality of online poker websites falls into a murky, gray area. So instead of trying to provide you with a black and white answer about whether real cash Internet poker is legal in Iowa, we’ve highlighted key facets of the gambling law that could pertain to online poker and playing for real money at Internet poker websites. Read them, remember them, and if you have any additional questions seek the counsel of a legal professional well versed in gambling and betting laws in IA.
That said, Iowa takes an interesting approach to illegal gambling in that the severity of the crime is proportional to the amount wagered while playing real money poker or any other betting game:
- The statues provide broad definitions of gambling and betting. In Iowa, participating in a game for any real money or other property of any value is a crime, as is making any bet. Obviously, regulated poker gambling and casino betting facilities are excluded from this definition. Section 725.7(1a)
- Based on the deliberately vague definition of gambling, it appears that Iowa’s laws make no differentiation between skill and chance games. That bodes poorly for offline and Internet poker.
- The penalties for illegal gambling are as follows:
- Fourth-degree gambling (less than $100): First offense is a serious misdemeanor, with subsequent offenders receiving an aggravated misdemeanor followed by a class “D” felony. Fourth time offenders in Iowa are pegged with a class “C” felony charge.
- Third-degree gambling (between $100 and $500): First timers are slapped with an aggravated misdemeanor. Violate the law three or more times in IA and expect a class “C” felony charge.
- Second-degree gambling (between $500 and $5,000): Expect a class “D” felony charge the first time around, and a class “C” felony if caught gambling again.
- First-degree gambling (over $5,000): Automatic class “C” felony charge.
- Possessing a gambling or betting device is deemed a serious misdemeanor, as is pool selling.
It’s in a way ironic that most pro-gambling states are extremely intolerant of illegal gambling and real money poker activities. But in a way it makes sense. Iowa’s regulated gambling industry is a huge source of state tax revenue and legal real cash poker helps support the IA state. The last thing Iowa needs is for underground gambling halls and unregulated Texas Hold’em poker betting rings to steal its patrons.
To read more about Iowa’s gambling and Internet poker laws, check out the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission website [4].
The Facts
The History of Gambling in Iowa
For the longest time, Iowa’s gambling and betting scene remained relatively quiet. Then, in 1983 the poker gambling and real money betting scene in IA suddenly sprung to life, setting off a domino effect that would see several forms of gambling legalized in the next decade, including legal real cash poker.
That year, the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act was passed and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission was established. Dog and horse racing gambling facilities opened that year, and real cash betting via simulcasting was added in 1989. It was also in 1989 that voters in eight Iowa counties approved riverboat gambling and real money poker referendums. The first riverboat casino and lawful poker room would open two years later, and in 1992 two additional counties approved a referendum.
Legislation legalizing a statewide Iowa lottery was made law in early 1985, with sales for real money betting tickets beginning shortly after. Since, the lottery has raised nearly $1.3 billion dollars for state related programs with the profits from Iowa residents’ gambling [5].
In 1992 the government forged a poker and gambling compact with the state’s Indian factions to allow tribal gaming. Three tribal casinos opened that year. Land-based casinos and legit real money poker rooms would soon follow. All told, from 1992 to 2000 a staggering 12 casinos and lawful poker gambling destinations opened their doors to the public.
Online poker entered the picture in 2011 and Internet poker truly hit IA. That year, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission prepared a report on state regulated Internet poker websites. The report revealed that the state could generate anywhere between $3 and $13 million in tax revenue annually off legit real money online poker websites alone.
IA State’s first attempt to legalize real cash online poker websites came in early 2012, but eventually died in the House. A second attempt to bring in lawful Internet poker in 2013 failed to make it out of a Senate subcommittee.
Regulated Gambling Options in Iowa
Of the 50 US states, exactly three permit all five forms of regulated gambling. Iowa is one of them. And while there is no dedicated casino strip like there is in New Jersey and Nevada, Iowans have a broader set of gambling options than nearly anyone residing in the US.
US online poker players are enjoying the game at various Internet-based poker rooms while the state has no official policy on such rooms.
The Future of Regulated Online Gambling in Iowa
Right now, quarrels over intrastate real money Internet poker revenues and lackluster support from voters are preventing IA real cash poker legislators from taking a more aggressive stance on real money poker websites.
But now that the initial Internet poker revenue reports are coming in from states that have already legalized iGaming and already have lawful poker websites, Iowa’s authorities are seeing a clearer picture of how a potential Internet gambling market would perform in IA. There are still some minor details to work out, but it wouldn’t be unsurprising to see Iowa pass a real cash iGaming Internet poker bill in 2015.
Fun Fact
In October 2013, Tim Giardina, the second in command officer of all US nuclear weapons, was suspected of using $1,500 worth of counterfeit real money poker chips at the Horseshoe Council Bluffs casino and real cash poker room in Iowa [6]. Although the Iowa state did not press charges, Giardina was suspended and demoted to a two-star admiral thanks to his adventures into not very legal Texas Hold’em poker betting.
The Bottom Line
In a 2013 survey, it was revealed that only 23% of Iowans are in favor of online poker websites [7]. That sounds bad, but considering that the majority of citizens in most states aren’t gamblers, it could mean that up to nearly a quarter of Iowans will register for a real money poker account at online poker websites. Wishful thinking on the part of real cash poker gambling fans, but just like in the game of legal poker itself, anything is possible.
Otherwise, look for Iowa to take a calculated wait and see approach to online poker websites much like some other states have done because they’re not sure how lawful Internet poker will work out for those states that have already made real cash poker gambling websites legal. The prospect of an interstate Internet poker compact with say, Illinois, would really speed things along and bring IA gambling fans real cash poker action quicker, as Iowa’s population of slightly fewer than 3.1 million is paltry in comparison to most other state’s considering iGaming and Internet poker. Illinois, by comparison, boasts nearly 13 million residents which would add a significant amount of real money revenue into any poker website prize pool.
In either case, it’s hard to imagine that a state like Iowa that has legalized all forms of gambling, including legal real money poker, and relies heavily on tax revenue generated from gambling and betting related activities would not be among the first to pass an iGaming Internet poker bill. We’ll just have to wait and see when the first Iowa real money legal poker website hits the Internet!
References
[1] ↑Iowa Gaming Association
[2] ↑No Legal Online Poker in Iowa Until 2015
[3] ↑Speaker: Iowa House won’t ante up; online poker is dead
[4] ↑Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission
[5] ↑Iowa Lottery – History
[6] ↑Horseshoe Council Bluffs
[7] ↑Iowa Poll: Iowans’ approval not in the cards for online gambling
Related Pages:
Comments are closed.
| Q Casino | |
|---|---|
| Location | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Address | 1855 Greyhound Park Drive |
| Opening date | June 1, 1985 |
| Theme | French |
| No. of rooms | 116 @ the Hilton Garden Inn |
| Total gaming space | 29,600 sq ft (2,750 m2) |
| Permanent shows | Cabaret; Encore Stage |
| Signature attractions | Greyhound racing (May–October) |
| Notable restaurants | Champagne Steakhouse; Bon Appetite Buffet |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | City of Dubuque |
| Previous names | Dubuque Greyhound Park (1985-1995) Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino (1995-2009) Mystique (2009-2017) |
| Renovated in | 1995, 2005, 2009 |
| Website | qcasinoandhotel.com |
Q Casino (formerly Mystique and Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino) is a combination greyhound race track and casino (racino) located in Dubuque, Iowa. The casino is owned by the City of Dubuque, and operated by the non-profit Dubuque Racing Association, its license holder. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association, and shares a gaming license with the Diamond Jo Casino, also in Dubuque. Beginning operations on June 1, 1985, the track became a full-service casino following the introduction of table games in 2005.
Q Casino is located on Chaplain Schmitt Island, near the Mississippi River. The casino, along with attractions in the Port of Dubuque and Downtown Dubuque, have helped to create a large and growing tourism market in Dubuque.
Casino[edit]
Q Casino is currently the larger of Dubuque's two casinos, with 29,600 square feet (2,750 m2) of gaming space. It has 1,000 slot, keno, and video poker machines, and table games including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Three-card poker, Four-card poker, Pai Gow poker, Let it Ride, Texas Hold 'em and Ultimate Texas Hold 'em. The operation also has four restaurants—the Champagne Steakhouse, Bon Appetit Buffet, The Players Club Sports Bar and The Players Club Express in the greyhound track seating area, and Houlihan's adjacent to the facility. The casino features two entertainment venues—the Cabaret venue for national and 'tribute' musical performers plus the Bonkerz Comedy Club, and the Encore stage in the casino showcasing local musical acts every weekend.[1]
History[edit]
With the onset of the 'Farm Crisis,' and a successive economic recession, the Iowa State Legislature passed the Pari-mutuel Wagering Act in 1984, with the hope of jumpstarting the state's economy. The bill permitted the opening of horse and greyhoundrace tracks in Iowa. A group of Dubuque citizens, originally affiliated with the city's convention and visitors bureau, formed the independent, non-profit Dubuque Racing Association to study the feasibility of opening a race track in Dubuque. In April 1984, a 20-year, $7.9 million bond referendum was put before the voters, and passed with a solid 70% majority.
The following year, on June 1, 1985, the Dubuque Greyhound Park opened as Iowa's first pari-mutuel race track, and as the first non-profit greyhound race track in the nation. The operation was a resounding success, and the facility's bonds were paid off in May 1991, 14 years ahead of schedule. In 1994, the Iowa Legislature passed another bill, allowing for the installation of slot machines at land-based casinos in the state. The Dubuque operation did just that in November 1995, renaming itself the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino.
In 2002, Dubuque County voters showed their satisfaction with the casino by voting to allow the continuation of gambling in Dubuque County, with over 80% in support. Iowa law requires that county voters re-approve gambling every 8 years.
In 2009, Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino was renamed Mystique. A $10 million renovation includes incorporating a French theme throughout the casino, as well as adding a new steakhouse, buffet, and entertainment area.[2]
In March 2017, Mystique was again rebranded as Q Casino, to avert a trademark lawsuit by the Mystic Lake Casino.[3][4]
Expansion[edit]
On the eve of its 20th anniversary, in May 2005, the casino completed a $33 million expansion and renovation project, tripling the size of the gaming floor to 29,000 square feet (2,700 m2). The facility also became a full-service casino, by adding table games and a poker room for the first time.[5] The expansion greatly increased the casino's market share, with attendance rising to over 1 million visitors in the following year.
That same year, a 116-room Hilton Garden Inn was built adjacent to the casino, along with a Houlihan's Restaurant. The expanded facility has recently been recognized for its state-of-the-art air purification system, winning several national awards.[6]
References[edit]
- ^'Mystique facility information'. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^'Mystique Casino & Dubuque Greyhound Park history'. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^Katie Wiedemann (February 28, 2017). 'Mystique Casino changes name to Q Casino'. KCRG-TB. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^Jeff Montgomery (February 28, 2017). 'Mystique fades: Dubuque casino changing names as part of rebranding effort'. Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, IA. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^'DGP&C expansion details'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
- ^'DGP&C air purification system awards'(PDF). Retrieved March 5, 2007.
Online Casino Poker
External links[edit]
Coordinates: 42°31′01″N90°38′39″W / 42.51701°N 90.644208°W
Casino Poker Video
