Change in Sports Betting Policy in Iowa

The policy that led to change in sports betting guidelines went into effect on January 1. Three weeks after that, the Iowa casinos are already noticing its beneficial effect.

The change was imposed for the sake of players. Since January 1st they could successfully sign up to gamble on sports through existing casino apps.

News broke on January 1 that sports betting in the state no longer required players to make an in-person registration, allowing them to open wagering accounts online.

Sports betting was legalized in the state in 2019 but the law remained very strict. If players wanted to open an account in order to place bets online and via mobile phones, they had to go to physical casino. That requirement is no longer valid from January 1.

The change of policy was imposed by the pandemic and the need to avoid that players visited physical gambling venues. This led to significant increase in revenue for various casinos in the state.

VP of Racing at Prairie Meadows Casino, Derron Heldt said that the revenue for the month of January 2021 is significantly higher than it was at the same time last year.

According to Heldt, the first 15 days of the month went very well for Prairie Meadows Casino. “We’re up 70% year over year.”

The 70% increase is worth $3 million. Heldt said that the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs being in the NFL playoffs has also encouraged players to make some bets.

Top Entertainment Destination

Prairie Meadows was established in 1989 and since then, it has played an important role in central Iowa. It is one of the two non-profit casinos in the States, which promotes economic development, jobs, agriculture and tourism in Iowa.

Prairie Meadows is one of the top entertainment destinations In Iowa. It provides guests with casino action, live and simulcast horse racing, sports wagering, local and regional music acts, full-service dining amenities, as well as a place to stay. Although it is one of the most popular casinos in the state with a high revenue, it went even higher after the in-person registration expired.

A few days after the expiration of an in-person registration requirement William Hill announced launching an enhanced version of its Sports Book App and desktop operation in Iowa.

The new policy brings an increase in revenue and makes it easier for players to gamble, since many casinos in the state are still closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: “Iowa casinos see increase in revenue since change in sports betting policy”, KCCI, January 21, 2021