There are numerous gambling halls in the commonwealth, the biggest number being on docked river boats. The grandest of the Iowa gambling dens is the Meswaki Bingo Casino Hotel, an Indian gambling hall in Tama, with 127,669 square feet of gaming space, 1,500 one armed bandits, thirty table games, such as chemin de fer, craps, roulette, and baccarat, and many varieties of poker; including three dining rooms, biweekly shows, and casino lessons. An additional substantial Indian gambling den is the Winna Vegas, with 45,000 square feet, 668 one armed bandits, and 14 table games. Furthermore, the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs never closes, with 38,500 square feet, 1,589 one armed bandits, 36 table games, and 4 dining rooms. There are many other popular Iowa gambling dens, including Harrah’s Council Bluffs, with 28,250 square feet, 1,212 slot machines, and 39 table games.
A smaller Iowa gambling den is the Diamond Jo, a paddle wheel boat gambling den in Dubuque, with 17,813 sq.ft., 776 slot machines, and 19 table games. The Catfish Bend river boat, in Fort Madison, with 13,000 sq.ft., 535 slots, and 14 table games. One more Iowa river based casino, The Isle of Capri, is open all day and night, with 24,939 sq.ft., 1,100 slots, and 24 table games. The Mississippi Belle II, a 10,577 sq.ft. riverboat gambling hall in Clinton, has 506 slot machines, 14 table games, live entertainment, and Thursday twenty-one events.
Iowa casinos provide an excellent deal of tax revenue to the state of Iowa, which has allowed the bankrolling of a good many state wide activities. Vacationers have grown at an accelerated rate along with the request for companies and an increase in jobs. Iowa gambling halls have been instrumental to the advancement of the economy, and the enthusiasm for gaming in Iowa is across the board.
