Iowa's licensed casinos generated $131.37m in adjusted gross revenue during August 2026, representing a 13.12% decrease from the same month last year, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC).
State gaming taxes from casinos declined by a smaller 4.71% to $26.75m, bringing combined casino and sports wagering tax revenue to approximately $27.9m for the month.
The casino comparison comes after a change in Iowa's treatment of promotional play. From July 2026, adjusted gross revenue no longer includes promotional play receipts, following a gradual phase-out that began in fiscal year 2022 under SF619.
IRGC Administrator Tina Eick said: "As expected, casino revenue and state taxes continue to be lower than the prior year given the law change on promotional play."
August was the second month reported under the revised treatment. In July, casino revenue fell 6.04% year-on-year to $136.11m, although state gaming taxes increased 0.54% to $20.16m.
The declines follow growth in the previous fiscal year. Iowa casinos generated $1.70bn in adjusted gross revenue during FY2026, up 1.3%, while casino tax revenue decreased 0.76% to $312.08m as the promotional play tax phase-out continued.
Sports wagering produced a different pattern in August. Handle reached $185.5m, approximately $4m higher than August 2025, but wagering revenue fell 22.45% to $17.1m. State sports wagering taxes declined 22.14% to $1.15m.
Iowa taxes sports wagering revenue at 6.75%, a rate that has remained unchanged since regulated sports betting began in the state in August 2019.
The state currently has 19 licensed casinos and 10 state-licensed entities offering online sports betting. The casino market has also seen property investment in 2026, including the opening of Bally's Marquette's new landside casino in March.
In November 2025, Elite Casino Resorts received regulatory approval to acquire Catfish Bend Casino and FunCity Resort in Burlington, with the property set to be renamed Great River Casino Resort following closing.
Iowa's sports wagering revenue of $17.1m represented approximately 9.2% of the state's $185.5m August handle
