Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed into law a bill legalizing betting on most college and professional sports at the state’s 19 commercial casinos. Now officials at two western Iowa casinos said they plan to open sportsbooks in the coming months.
Mayan Beltran, chief executive officer at the WinnaVegas Casino Resort near Sloan, owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, said, “We are waiting for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to develop the rules for the state of Iowa that we will use. Whatever the law allows, we will make available to our guests.” The IRGC, which regulates the state-licensed casinos, expects to finalize sports betting rules by July or August.
Beltran said at first, WinnaVegas will set up sports betting in its 360 Lounge, and eventually determine if a larger sportsbook is needed. “Everybody is going to have it, so you have to stay in competition,” he said.
In addition, Brad Appleton, chief operating officer at the Blackbird Bend Casino near Onawa, owned by the Omaha Tribe, said, “The probability of offering sports betting is pretty high. We will not go into a full-blown sports parlor, but we will have a sports wagering system available, through a kiosk or such system.”
Appleton said sports betting profit margins only are expected to be about 5 percent, but Blackbird Bend will offer it as a way to attract more visitors to the casino.
