In figures provided to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Iowa’s licensed casinos and sports wagering operators reported $176.1 million in receipts for March 2026. At $151.5 million, casino revenue decreased by roughly 2 percent. In contrast, sports wagering revenue increased by 56 percent to $24.57 million in comparison with March 2025.
The month was highlighted by the full opening of a new landside casino at Bally’s Marquette (formerly Casino Queen), which completed a multi-year construction project to upgrade from its previous riverboat location. The new two-story casino opened the doors to its first floor on February 27, 2026, with the second floor and a retail sportsbook following on March 3, and a formal grand opening on March 13. With the opening of the new facility, Bally’s Marquette saw an 83.8% increase over March 2025 revenue.
The opening of the new casino at Bally’s Marquette is the culmination of years of hard work by multiple stakeholders. The Commission was a strong proponent of greater investment in the property. It first approved the project and the move to a landside facility in January of 2023 while the property was under prior ownership. Bally’s entered the Iowa gaming market with the acquisition of the property in January of 2025 while the new casino was under construction. Along with local staff, Bally’s was instrumental in getting the project completed. Tina Eick, administrator for the Racing and Gaming Commission stated, “Holding a gaming license in Iowa is a privilege and comes with a number of responsibilities and expectations. Marquette has had a riverboat casino since 1994. The new modern landside casino demonstrates Bally’s ongoing commitment to uphold the Commission’s high expectations for integrity and compliance and to revitalize the longstanding Marquette market.”
Casino Revenue and Taxes
Iowa casinos reported a decrease in revenue of 2.07% compared with March 2025. Gaming taxes collected by the state decreased 3.56% from March 2025:
- $151.53 million – Adjusted Gross Revenue
- $28.57 million – State Gaming Taxes
Sports Wagering Revenue and Taxes
Sports wagering operations in the state reported an increase in revenue of 55.98% from March 2025. State taxes on sports wagering increased by 55.68% compared with March 2025:
- $24.57 million – Sports Wagering Revenue
- $1.66 million – State Sports Wagering Taxes
Additional Information
As of March 2026, a total of 19 state-licensed casinos are operating in Iowa. Currently, 11 state-licensed entities offer online sports betting in the state. Details for each casino and sports betting operator’s revenue statistics are available on the IRGC website.
Gambling in any form is for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-BETS-OFF or visit yourlifeiowa.org for additional resources. Iowa residents can also visit irgc.iowa.gov for information on the statewide self-exclusion program.
The mission of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is to administer the laws and rules for gambling and wagering in Iowa in order to ensure the integrity of licensees and their operations, maintain public confidence in regulated gambling and wagering activities in Iowa, and promote economic development for the citizens of Iowa. Learn more at irgc.iowa.gov/mission-statement.