There are many gambling dens 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 Amerindian gambling den in Tama, with 127,669 sq.ft. of casino area, 1,500 slot machines, 30 table games, like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, and many styles of poker; also 3 restaurants, monthly productions, and gambling advice. Another big American Indian gambling den is the Winna Vegas, with 45,000 sq.ft., 668 one armed bandits, and 14 table games. Also, the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs never closes, with 38,500 sq.ft., 1,589 slots, 36 table games, and four eatery’s. There are many other dominant Iowa casinos, including Harrah’s Council Bluffs, with 28,250 sq.ft., 1,212 slot machines, and 39 table games.
A smaller Iowa gambling hall is the Diamond Jo, a paddle wheel boat gambling hall in Dubuque, with 17,813 sq.ft., 776 slots, and 19 table games. The Catfish Bend river based, in Fort Madison, with 13,000 sq.ft., 535 slot machines, and 14 table games. One more Iowa river boat casino, The Isle of Capri, is open all day and night, with 24,939 square feet, 1,100 slots, and 24 table games. The Mississippi Belle II, a 10,577 square foot river based gambling den in Clinton, has 506 slots, 14 table games, live productions, and Thursday twenty-one tournaments.
Iowa casinos present an excellent deal of tax money to the government of Iowa, which has enabled the budgeting of a good many commonwealth wide projects. Tourism has grown at an accelerated percentage along with the demand for services and a gain in employment. Iowa casinos have contributed to the expansion of the economy, and the affection for gaming in Iowa is across the board.