If you were to ask a random person off the street if they
think poker would be big in Iowa, they would probably give you a
blank stare. Even if this person was from Iowa the resultant
response would probably be the same. The state certainly isn’t
big on its poker. They do however have a few poker rooms in
their casinos and the Texas holdem poker seems alive and well.
While Iowa isn’t the Texas holdem hot bed that many states are, you can still find a few good games in the state. In addition, you can still find plenty of private and home games if you know where to look. By using this handy Iowa Texas holdem guide you know where to find the public poker rooms, which is a.
The game of choice is of course no limit holdem, like in most
states. You’ll find some other games being played on the
weekends in some casinos, mostly Omaha and stud, with the odd
mixed game opening from time to time.
Comps are offered for players in most places and this is
quite often a bit more generous than in some of the major poker
states. Your best choices for good action packed games are
Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs and Riverside Casino.
List of Iowa Poker Rooms
Here is our compiled list of all the poker rooms you can find
in the state of Iowa:
Catfish Bend Casino
- Location: Burlington, IA
- Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4pm to midnight, Tuesday and
Thursday 2pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday open 24 hours, and
Sunday from 8am to 10pm - Tables: 5
- Games: This poker room offers both tournaments and cash
games. You’ll find daily no limit tournaments on Wednesday to
Friday with two offered on Friday. The buy in ranged from $25 up
to $125. For the cash players they spread $1 / $2 no limit
holdem, $5 / $10 limit Omaha 8s or better and $2 / $10 Stud 8s
or better. Usually it’s only the holdem game running. - Ambience: This no smoking poker room has TVs on the walls and
some of the tables have automatic shufflers to keep things
moving. The room is well lit with wooden panelled walls and
beige and brown tables and chairs. It’s a very nice place to
play poker. - Hospitality: You can earn comps while playing at the Catfish
Bend Casino poker room at a rate of $1 per hour. They also offer
cocktail service at the table. - Players: You will find some decent competition in this casino
with mostly regulars covering the tables outside of the busy
hours. When it is busy, on weekends, you’ll find softer play and
a lot more action. Mainly in the no limit holdem cash game. If
you bring a decent game to the poker room you should be getting
it in good a lot of the time.
Diamond Jo Casino Northwood
- Location: Northwood, IA
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday 12pm to 3am, Thursday to Saturday
10am to close, and Sunday 10am to 3am - Tables: 7
- Games: This room offers daily no limit holdem tournaments
with buy in’s ranging from $30 to $65. They go dark on some
Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. On top of this you’ll find
$1 / $2 no limit holdem cash games always running with $2 / $5
opening up on weekends. - Ambience: The tables and chairs in this poker room are in
great condition. The room is spacious and non-smoking plus they
have TV’s on the walls to keep you entertained between hands. - Hospitality: Players can earn comps in this room at a rate
determined by how many hours they play in a month. If you play
15 hours or less you’ll get 50 cents per hour, 16 to 30 hours
will earn you 75 cents per hour and over 31 hours will earn you
$1 per hour. You will also be served cocktails while you play. - Players: The games here will be most filled with locals who
think they are quite decent, but come on, this is Iowa. So if
you come from a more poker savvy state you should be able to
cash in at this place. For the record, Iowa is a great state
with some excellent poker players. The dealers and players are
very friendly and welcoming which is a necessity these days to
keep poker alive.
Grand Falls Casino Resort
- Location: Larchwood, IA
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
- Tables: 8
- Games: For the cash players they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5
no limit holdem, $2 / $10 spread limit Omaha 8s or better, and
$2 / $10 stud 8s or better. No limit holdem and limit Omaha 8s
or better tournaments are offered except on Tuesday and Friday.
Omaha is played on Monday’s. The buy ins will range from $40 to
$100. - Ambience: This non-smoking poker room is well maintained and
has TV’s on the walls to keep you covered. This new casino
boasts nice beige walls and ceilings and green table felt tables
with comfortable chairs. - Hospitality: You can earn 50 cents in comps per hour played
here through the Grand Falls Resort Club. They also offer food
and cocktail service at the tables. A series of jackpots and
promotions are also offered to push your dollars further. - Players: You’ll come across a good mix of players here with
some regulars and some recreational players. The play won’t be
that solid, so if you bring a decent range and play book you
should be able to do well. Expect lots of bluffing and big
moves, like they show on ESPN from the big tournaments.
Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs
- Location: Council Bluffs, IA
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
- Tables: 18
- Games: Tournaments are held almost daily here with the
exceptions being some Friday’s and Thursday’s. The game is
usually no limit holdem with some crazy pineapple also. The buy
in will range from $55 to $250 depending on the day. For the
cash players they hold $1 / $3 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $3 /
$6 limit holdem and $6 / $12 and $10 / $20 limit Omaha 8s or
better games. - Ambience: This classically designed poker room has green felt
tables and brown chairs within a wooden panelled room with brown
and beige tones. It’s a great poker environment which just feels
like a natural place to play. The room is non-smoking and has
TV’s to keep you entertained. - Hospitality: Through the Total Rewards program you can earn
comps here at 50 cents per hour played. IF you play over 20
hours in a week you get a bonus $12 in comps. They also serve
food at the table and cocktails are available as well. The poker
room runs various bonuses and jackpots, including for high hands
and bad beats, to push your rake and drop dollars further. - Players: The room will mostly be filled with regulars who
know each other and play a different game when they are in pots
together. Your best bet is to visit during busier hours when the
regulars don’t dominate the tables as much. This way you’ll
often find softer tables and weaker, sometimes inebriated,
players.
Isle Casino Waterloo
- Location: Waterloo, IA
- Hours: Friday to Tuesday from 2pm, Closed Wednesday and
Thursday - Tables: 4
- Games: Only cash games take place in this casino with the
games being $1 / $2 no limit holdem, and $1 / $2 and $5 / $10
pot limit Omaha high. - Ambience: This small poker room features TV’s on the walls,
automatic shufflers on the tables and is non-smoking for player
comfort. - Hospitality: Players can earn 60 cents per hour in comps in
this poker room through the Fan Club rewards program. Cocktails
and food are also available at the table and they run some
jackpots and bonuses to keep you coming back. - Players: You’ll find mostly weaker regulars in this poker
room with the game loosening up a bit on weekend evenings. If
you pick your times and spots you should do well here, although
it’s not really worth going out of your way for.
Lady Luck Casino Marquette
- Location: Marquette, IA
- Hours: Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 3am, Sunday 11am to
11pm - Tables: 2
- Games: This small poker area doesn’t offer any tournament
play and only spreads $3 / $6 limit holdem. - Ambience: This non-smoking poker room poker area features
TV’s that are viewable from most seats and automatic shufflers
on the tables. - Hospitality: You can earn comps while you play here and
cocktails and food are available from the table, which is always
a good thing. - Players: Weak amateurs and regulars are the most common
players you’ll come across here. While the vibe should be
friendly and welcoming the play will be slow and soft. If you
have patience and like a slow limit game then this could be your
jam. If not you’ll find much better value elsewhere.
Meskwaki Casino
- Location: Tama, IA
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday from 2pm, Thursday from 10am,
Friday from 8am, Saturday and Sunday from 10am - Tables: 15
- Games: You’ll find almost daily no limit holdem tournaments
in this poker room with the buy in ranging from $25 up to $55.
They sometimes go dark on Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s,
so call ahead to check. For the cash players they spread $1 / $2
no limit holdem all the time and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $1 /
$2 mixed and $4 / $8 limit Omaha 8s or better on weekends. - Ambience: This poker room is quite small and no smoking. It
features TV’s that are viewable from most seats at the table.
The tables and chairs are well maintained and comfortable. - Hospitality: Comps can be earned by players at a rate of $1
per hour. If you play 4 hours you can get a discounted hotel
room rate. On top of this they serve cocktails at the table. If
you want food you’ll have to leave the table. - Players: This room is truly dominated by regulars who know
each other and the staff. They don’t really go out of their way
to welcome you or make it a fun environment. We’ve also heard
reports of some unfair promotions that favor regulars in the
tournaments.
Mystique Casino
- Location: Dubuque, IA
- Hours: Wednesday 11am to 3am, Thursday from 4pm, Friday from
10am, Saturday from 11am, Sunday 11am to 3am, closed on Monday
and Tuesday - Tables: 4
- Games: On the days they are open except Saturday, they run a
no limit holdem tournament with a buy in ranging from $40 to
$80. They also spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $5 /
$10 limit Omaha 8s or better, $6 / $12 and $10 / $20 mixed and
$2 / $10 stud 8s or better. - Ambience: This no-smoking poker area features TV’s on the
wall and automatic shufflers. The red table felt stands out
nicely against the blue and black chairs, in this nicely
designed poker area just off from the main casino floor. - Hospitality: You can earn comps here through the MyClub
program at 50 cents per hour. On top of this they service
cocktails and food at the table to keep you going strong. - Players: The action isn’t great in this poker room and you’ll
struggle to find value here in any games. We’ve heard that staff
aren’t that great too which can kill the game in so many ways.
Hopefully they improve this soon or the room will probably
disappear.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino
- Location: Altoona, IA
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 8am to 4am, Thursday to
Saturday open 24 hours - Tables: 11
- Games: Tournaments are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Sunday. The game is no limit holdem and the buy in ranges from
$35 to $70. On top of this they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no
limit holdem, $5 / $10 mixed and $3 / $6 limit holdem. - Ambience: This basic poker room is no-smoking and has some
TV’s viewable from the tables. The chairs aren’t super
comfortable but the tables are well maintained. Overall it’s a
decent playing environment. - Hospitality: Comps can be earned here at the measly rate of
10 cents per hour through the Prairie Gold Club rewards program.
You can also get food at the table and will be provided with
cocktail service while playing. - Players: This room is very friendly and welcoming,
particularly to visitors, which is a really good thing. Some
other rooms in Iowa should take note of this. You’ll find lots
of action on friendly tables with decent play.
Rhythm City Casino Resort
- Location: Davenport, IA
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
- Tables: 8
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held on Monday’s and
Wednesday’s at 6pm with a buy in of $30 and $40 respectively. On
the last Sunday of each month they also offer a $100 buy in no
limit holdem tournament. This poker room also spreads $1 / $2,
$2 / $5 and $5 / $10 no limit holdem and $3 / $6 limit holdem. - Ambience: This no-smoking poker room features TV’s on the
walls and automatic shufflers on most tables. The red felt
tables are well maintained with comfortable chairs. This means
you can sit in on long cash or tournament sessions without too
much discomfort. - Hospitality: Comps can be earned here through the E-Club!
rewards program and you can also get cocktails and food at the
table. - Players: You’ll find a mixed bag of players here with the
best value being on a Friday or Saturday night. Locals will
cover most of the tables at other times, however, they are
friendly and welcoming meaning the vibe is always good.
Riverside Casino
- Location: Riverside, IA
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
- Tables: 14
- Games: The poker room at Riverside Casino offers a daily
tournament rotating between no limit holdem and limit Omaha 8s
or better. The buy in ranges from $30 to $50. For the cash
players they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no limit holdem, $3 / $6
limit Omaha 8s or better and $3 / $6 limit holdem. - Ambience: This no-smoking room is clean, comfortable and
spacious offering TV’s on the walls to keep you covered between
hands. Unfortunately they don’t have automatic shufflers on the
tables at this stage. - Hospitality: You can earn comps in this poker room through
the Riverside Resort Club rewards program. On top of this they
offer cocktails and food at the table to keep you grinding
longer. They also run a bad beat jackpot. - Players: The play is quite soft here so you will need
patience to do well. The variance could be quite high as you’ll
get called down, and quite often experience bad beats, in many
hands. Even still, you should be profitable in the long run if
you ride out the variance here. The dealers and management go
out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
Wild Rose Casino
- Location: Clinton, IA
- Hours: Friday and Saturday only from 6:30pm
- Tables: 1
- Games: You’ll only find a $1 / $2 no limit holdem cash game
running here with no tournaments offered. - Ambience: This is just one poker table in the casino area. No
smoking is permitted at the table. - Hospitality: You can get food and cocktails from the table
and you’ll also be awarded with comps based on your play. These
can be earned through the Wild Times Club rewards program. - Players: It’s all down to luck when you play poker at the
Wild Rose Casino. Not in respect to whether you win or lose, but
in regards to what type of players you’ll find at the table.
WinnaVegas Casino
Bicycle Casino Poker Tournaments
- Location: Sloan, IA
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday open from 10am,
Saturday and Sunday from 11am. Closed on Thursday - Tables: 8
- Games: This poker room features a no limit holdem tournament
each day they are open. They have a free-roll on Sunday’s with
other tournaments having a buy in between $25 and $50. On top of
this they spread $1 / $2 and $2 / $3 no limit holdem, $2 / $10
and $4 / $10 mixed and $2 / $10 stud 8s or better cash games. - Ambience: It’s all about the browns and yellows in this
spacious poker room. The brown table felt is well maintained and
clashes brilliantly with the mustard yellow walls. The tables
and chairs are comfortable and the room is non-smoking. TV’s are
also viewable from most seats. - Hospitality: You can earn comps while you play here. Food and
cocktails are also offered at the table for players. They also
offer bad beat and high hand jackpots, as well as some
promotions for free chips on weekends. - Players: You’ll find a lot of friendly regulars in this poker
room with more visitors and amateurs appearing on weekend
evenings. If you want value and can put up with the odd bad
beat, visit on Saturday and Sunday. If you fare better against
solid players go mid-week.
Conclusion
Q Casino Poker Tournament Iowa State
While Iowa isn’t the Texas holdem hot bed that many states
are, you can still find a few good games in the state. In
addition, you can still find plenty of private and home games if
you know where to look. By using this handy Iowa Texas holdem
guide you know where to find the public poker rooms, which is a
good place to start your search when looking for your next game.