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Since land-based casinos are legal, players can enjoy blackjack in one of 18 commercial and three tribal gambling facilities that dot the landscape of this state.
Online gambling is not legalized in Iowa, but legal options include social and sweepstakes sites. There is also a slew of safe and secure offshore casinos where players can enjoy Iowa blackjack online with peace of mind.
Is Blackjack Legal in Iowa?
Iowa was an anti-gambling state until 1972, when it legalized charitable bingo, raffles, and other low-stakes games of chance. This paved the way for the expansion of the gambling industry.
Before stepping into the 21st century, the Hawkeye State also legalized horse racing, lottery, and bingo and introduced the first slot machines at pari-mutuel racing tracks.
The 1983 referendum was passed by a significant majority, enabling Iowans to vote for the legalization of riverboat gambling, which happened in 1989.
At first, riverboat casinos had to stay on the water and leave the dock every two hours. Bets were limited to $5, and each player could lose up to $200 per cruise. This was the only way to play blackjack legally. The law later changed, and the casinos were allowed to remain moored permanently.
Voters continued to relax gaming regulations through the 90s. In 1994, the first three brick-and-mortar casinos were opened. This opened the door to the expansion of Iowa’s casinos, and now there are 23 casinos regulated throughout the state, thanks to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
Legal forms of gambling in the Hawkeye State include:
- Land-based casinos
- Horse race betting
- The state lottery
- Charitable and social gambling
- Land-based sports betting
Although the Hawkeye State passed Senate File 617, legalizing sports betting in 2019, the bill didn’t refer to online casinos.
Players can legally enjoy blackjack at social and sweepstakes casinos or offshore gambling sites that do not fall under the Iowa jurisdiction.
Iowa Blackjack Laws
Before you visit any land-based, offshore, or sweepstakes casino available in Iowa, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the following laws:
- Iowa Code, Section 725.7
- Iowa Code, Chapter 99B — Social and Charitable Gambling
- Iowa Code, Chapter 99F — Gambling Games and Sports Wagering Regulations
Best Online Blackjack Real-Money Casinos in Iowa
As we can see, Iowans have multiple gambling options at their disposal. We’ll discuss both online and land-based options in greater detail in the following sections.
Online Blackjack in Iowa
Despite the popularity of land-based casinos and the legalization of sports betting in 2019, there have been no positive developments in regulating online casinos. Thus, players won’t find any online sites offering real money blackjack within state borders.
Currently, the only legal options refer to sweepstakes and social casinos. They are 100% legal and free to play, open to anyone older than 18, but don’t involve real-money games.
Social casinos are known as free-play casinos, and Horseshoe and Harrah’s casinos in Council Bluffs feature such sites.
On the other hand, sweepstakes casinos use two types of virtual currency — sweeps and gold coins. You don’t have to make a deposit to play. Instead, you are given free tokens, which you can later redeem for prizes or cash.
Since the law doesn’t explicitly address online gambling, this activity is in legal limbo. This loophole allows Iowans to legally play on offshore websites since the IRGC has no authority over them.
Plus, many of them hold licenses from prominent international regulatory bodies, which means you can play blackjack on these sites stress-free.
Land-Based Blackjack Casinos in Iowa
Players searching for a legal real-money blackjack can visit any of the 23 Hawkeye State tribal, racetrack, or riverboat casinos. They operate under licenses from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
Altoona, Riverside, Council Bluffs, and Waterloo are the largest gambling venues. These gambling facilities feature multiple tables where you can play 21 variations, including:
- Double Deck Blackjack
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Trilux Blackjack, and many others.
The bets range between $1 and $3,000, and you need to be over 21 to play.
Legal Online Real-Money Blackjack Casinos in Iowa
Operating an online gaming site within state borders is deemed unlawful as Iowa’s law prohibits online casinos. That is why the Hawkeye State residents often turn to offshore operators for a quality blackjack session.
Although they are not strictly legal, no player has ever been prosecuted for visiting such sites.
Many of them feature multiple real-money blackjack variations and, most importantly, accept Iowans. Nevertheless, to ensure the quality of the operators we have included on our list, we did a background check on all the operators.
We have checked their security, legality, payment methods, and games they have on offer. You can find the entire list of online casinos that satisfy our criteria at the top of the page.
How to Register for Online Blackjack in Iowa
You’ll have to create an account regardless of the gaming website you choose. The entire process is a piece of cake, and you’ll register in no time if you follow our step-by-step guide:
Choose a casino — Scroll up to our list of recommended casinos and select the one that meets your preferences.
Register — Click the Register or Sign Up button. Then, enter all the necessary information, including your name, date of birth, email, address, and phone number. Don’t forget to set up a strong password.
Verify your account — If an operator sends a link to your email, you’ll need to click it to verify your account. Some casinos don’t require this. Then, you can log in.
Transfer funds to your account — Upon logging in, go to the Cashier section and locate the Deposit button. Choose the payment option that suits you and follow the instruction to top up your balance. This should be an instant transaction.
Pick a game and start playing — Now you are all set and just need to go to the Lobby, find the Table Games section, and pick one of the blackjack variants the chosen operator offers. Good luck!
Iowa Real-Money Blackjack Casinos
Although Iowa has not regulated online casinos yet, its residents are not left without any real-money gambling options. Besides brick-and-mortar venues, there are also multiple offshore operators to choose from. However, not all of them are safe and reliable. Many are not licensed, so players need to be extra careful before placing any bets.
We thoroughly check every aspect of each online casino before including it on our list. Thus, players can rest assured that these operators are trustworthy and licensed and that they feature good bonuses and extraordinary selections of RNG-powered blackjack variations. Scroll up and check out our top picks.
Iowa Blackjack Rules
You can play real-money blackjack in any of the 23 brick-and-mortar establishments, provided you are over 21, which is the legal gambling age in Iowa.
This casino classic is just as popular in Iowa as elsewhere. There are no specific rules imposed. The game’s basic premise remains the same — get as close to 21 without busting.
You automatically lose if you bust or go over 21, regardless of the dealer’s hand.
If you want to learn everything about the famous 21 and prepare yourself for real-money variations of this game, you can read our in-depth explanation here. The guide will teach you everything you need to know about the game, including its main features, strategies, and tips.
Live Dealer Online Blackjack in Iowa
Those who prefer an authentic gambling experience without leaving their home can hop over to the live dealer section on any of the websites we have singled out. These operators are well stocked when it comes to blackjack. Thus, visitors can play:
- Multi-hand Blackjack
- Single-hand Blackjack
- Blackjack Switch
- Super 7
- American Blackjack, and many other variations.
These RNG-based tables have versatile table limits. Some popular game variants offer betting ranges between $1 and $10,000, making them ideal for casual players and high-rollers. Moreover, their blackjack lobbies are powered by industry-leading software developers, such as:
- BetSoft
- Evolution Gaming
- Nucleus Gaming
Each game features a human dealer, and the gameplay is live-streamed in real-time from professional studios.
List of Popular Blackjack Casinos in Iowa
Iowa has 19 commercial and four tribal casino venues. Since choosing the one with the best blackjack options can be overwhelming, we have selected the top five casinos below to help save you some time:
- Harrah’s — One Harrahs Blvd, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
- Ameristar Casino — 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
- Hard Rock Casino — 111 3rd Street, Sioux City, IA 51101
- Riverside Casino & Resort — 3184 Hwy, Riverside, IA 52327
- Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel — 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona, IA 50009
Useful Guides for Iowa Players
Iowa online casinos can be difficult to understand especially with all the laws that govern their use, so here are some excellent, easy to read and in-depth guides to get you started.
Conclusion
Online casinos may be off-limits for Hawkeye State’s blackjack fans at the moment. However, that doesn’t mean players are left in the lurch. Safe, alternative options where they can legally enjoy blackjack include brick-and-mortar casinos, sweepstakes, and social casinos.
Moreover, numerous gambling opportunities are available on internationally-regulated sites, and you can take advantage of them without even leaving your home.
So, pick any casino from our list, as you are a click away from a premium blackjack experience.
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