Iowa Casinos Up 4.9% Rin August, Elite Casino Resorts Acquires A New Casino
Casinos in Iowa generated $151.2 million in August, up 4.9% year-on-year from $144.9 million.
The August revenue report from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission showed that of the total, table games generated $14.5 million, up 12.1% from $13 million in August 2024, and slots generated $136.7 million, up 4.1% from $131.2 million.
The August figures are also up 4.3% from the July 2025 revenue total of $144.9 million. So far in the 2026 fiscal year, the sector has produced $296.1 million.
Isle Casino Waterloo Leads Revenue Growth Percentages
Most of the state’s venues showed significant revenue increases year-over-year, with the most notable being Isle Casino Waterloo, which reported $9.4 million in August, up 31.9% from last year. Diamond Jo Worth, Isle of Capri, Lakeside, and Q Casino also showed double-figure increases.
| Casino | Aug 2024 Revenues | Aug 2025 Revenues | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ameristar II | $ 14,700,152 | $ 14,055,569 | -4.4% |
| Casino Queen Marquette | $ 1,832,987 | $ 1,885,755 | 2.9% |
| Catfish Bend | $ 3,938,813 | $ 4,028,400 | 2.3% |
| Diamond Jo Dubuque | $ 6,586,818 | $ 7,084,398 | 7.6% |
| Diamond Jo Worth | $ 9,505,165 | $ 10,464,460 | 10.1% |
| Grand Falls | $ 8,383,263 | $ 8,730,021 | 4.1% |
| Hard Rock | $ 7,944,960 | $ 8,078,148 | 1.7% |
| Harrah's Council Bluffs | $ 5,728,760 | $ 5,850,820 | 2.1% |
| Horseshoe Council Bluffs | $ 15,411,669 | $ 15,250,253 | -1.0% |
| Isle Casino Waterloo | $ 7,110,532 | $ 9,380,004 | 31.9% |
| Isle of Capri - Bettendorf | $ 5,843,862 | $ 6,672,815 | 14.2% |
| Lakeside Casino | $ 4,050,231 | $ 4,537,518 | 12.0% |
| Prairie Meadows | $ 19,835,225 | $ 21,070,972 | 6.2% |
| Q Casino | $ 3,844,909 | $ 4,338,658 | 12.8% |
| Rhythm City | $ 9,744,025 | $ 10,280,919 | 5.5% |
| Riverside | $ 11,257,575 | $ 11,066,356 | -1.7% |
| Wild Rose Clinton | $ 2,562,076 | $ 2,693,265 | 5.1% |
| Wild Rose Emmetsburg | $ 2,825,205 | $ 2,803,599 | -0.8% |
| Wild Rose Jefferson | $ 3,085,270 | $ 2,933,105 | -4.9% |
| Total | $ 144,191,497 | $ 151,205,035 | 4.9% |
Only five of Iowa’s casinos showed a revenue decline. Wild Rose Jefferson recorded a 4.9% drop to $2.9 million, and Ameristar II returned a disappointing 4.4% fall. Wild Rose Emmetsburg also lost 0.8% of its revenue year-over-year, but Wild Rose Clinton bucked the negative trend for the brand with a 5.1% increase.
Elite Casino Resorts Lands Catfish Bend Casino
Meanwhile, the Iowa retail casino sector is about to be shaken up by a significant ownership move. Elite Casino Resorts, which operates five casinos in the Midwest, including Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Catfish Bend Casino and FunCity Resort in Burlington. The deal involves the buyout of Great River Entertainment's assets and operations.
Commenting on the purchase, Elite Casino Resorts' CEO Dan Kehl said, “Our family’s history with Burlington and Southeast Iowa goes back to the earliest days of Iowa gaming. Bringing Catfish Bend and FunCity back into the fold allows us to honor that past while building toward an exciting future of growth, investment, and community partnerships.”
Elite Casino Resorts did not provide the transaction's financial details. Still, they did indicate that it intends to continue community engagement in Southeast Iowa, citing the region’s longstanding significance to the Kehl family.
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Digital PR SpecialistMy love for gambling and casinos started early when my grandad handed me a video poker machine as a kid, sparking a lifelong fascination with the game. I grew up watching Celebrity Poker religiously and that turned into my organizing March Madness bracket tournaments all throughout elementary and high school—making every March a high-stakes competition among friends before I was even old enough to place a real bet.
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