Casino Player September 2022

THE BEST OF GAMING 2022

Iowa

I owa spearheaded the move toward opening casinos away from traditional gambling meccas like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The Hawkeye State was the first state other than Nevada and New Jersey to legalize commercial gaming. It’s also evolved and adapted along the way, moving beyond riverboat properties to more traditional land-based casinos. Iowa’s riverboats, which launched in the spring of 1991, were first into the game that soon included Illinois, Mississippi and Louisiana. Riverboats were required to cruise,with scheduled boarding and disembarking times. Casinos originally had $200 loss limits, and players purchasing cruise tickets received vouchers that permitted them to buy up to $200 in gaming chips and slot tokens. A lot has changed since those early days. The loss limits and cruise requirements are long gone, and today Iowa allows casinos on land as well as on permanently moored boats and barges. Players will find a large, diverse casino market stretching from the Mississippi River bordering Illinois and Missouri to the Missouri River bordering Nebraska. Trying to casino hop across the state to the various commercial casinos, racetrack facilities and tribal resorts would be a challenge, however. Just the trek between two casinos at opposite ends of the state—from Ameristar in Council Bluffs, near Omaha, to the Casino Queen in Marquette on the Mississippi—is a good 5.5-hour jaunt. This year saw Horseshoe Council Bluffs rise from outside the top three to claim Best Overall Gaming Resort. The property, right next to Omaha, NE, offers a quality gaming experience with a Hilton Garden Inn connected to the property, more than 1,300 slots, 50 table games, a well-regarded poker room, and excellent dining at the Jack Binion’s Steak House. Sports bettors can also take a seat in the Caesars Sportsbook. Readers found the property shined in several categories including Best Hotel Staff, Best Poker Room and Best Live Poker. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City remains in second for Best Overall Gaming Resort again this year, adding some nice honors for Best Hotel, Best Hotel Lobby, Best Suites, Best Casino, Best Players Club, Best Hosts, Best High Limit Room, Casino Where You Feel The Luckiest, Best Carnival Games, Best Overall Sportsbook and Best Sportsbook Promotions. For history lovers, check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which is also located just over a mile from the property. Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel slid to third and this popular tribal property, located in Tama in east-central Iowa, remains a favorite with casino-goers. This property earned Best Comps, Best Promotions, Best Bingo, Best Keno and finished strong in other categories as well.

Best Hotel: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City

Best Overall Gaming Resort: Horseshoe Council Bluffs

Best Comps: Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel

Best Overall Gaming Resort ❶ Horseshoe Council Bluffs ❷ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City ❸ Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel HOTEL Best Hotel ❶ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City ❷ Riverside Casino & Golf Resort ❸ Rhythm City Casino Resort Best Hotel Lobby ❶ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City ❷ Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel ❸ Rhythm City Casino Resort Best Hotel Staff ❶ Horseshoe Council Bluffs ❷ Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf ❸ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City Best Rooms ❶ Riverside Casino & Golf Resort ❷ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City ❸ Rhythm City Casino Resort

Best Suites

❶ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City ❷ Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort ❸ Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo Best Pool ❶ Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ❷ Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort ❸ Rhythm City Casino Resort Best Spa ❶ Rhythm City Casino Resort, The Spa Best Golf Course ❶ Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, Blue Top Ridge ❷ Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort, The Falls Favorite Casino Resort To Vacation At ❶ Ameristar Casino Hotel - Council Bluffs ❷ Rhythm City Casino Resort ❸ Grand Falls Casino Resort

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