Iowa gaming officials approve final sports betting rules

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission met Tuesday to approve a final set of rules and regulations for sports wagering and approve license applications made by state-regulated casinos.  The rules allow for bets on professional, collegiate and international sporting events.

The new law also legalizes fantasy sports contests and internet fantasy sports betting, but delays betting based on college sporting event statistics until next May.

“Only the Casino Queen in Marquette currently is not planning yet to offer the new betting, commission administrator,” Brian Ohorilko said. “Of the 18, at least 15 are expected to have mobile apps to support their sports betting operations.”

“This is a very exciting day,” said Wes Ehrecke of the Iowa Gaming Association, an umbrella group for Iowa’s state-licensed casinos. “A lot of moving parts had to take place to get this here for these approvals.”

Not every casino will be taking bets immediately on Aug. 15. The two primary target times are Aug. 24, for the start of college football season, and the Sept. 5 kickoff for the National Football League slate.

Hard Rock Marketing Director Mike Adams said sports gambling at Sioux City Hard Rock could take place on Aug. 15 instead of later, so long as it is done in person at the downtown facility and not via online means such as mobile phones or computers. 

The new law excludes betting on some events, like in-state college team players. While it allows betting on-site or through a mobile app, players must first travel to a casino to prove their age and identity and set up an account with that casino. Mobile apps also will only be operable within state borders. So, for example, residents in Omaha, Nebraska, would have to cross state lines each time they wished to place a bet on their phones.