It’s the second day of March Madness and the local casinos aren’t complaining about the influx of business. Iowa is still new to sports betting, which the state legalized in 2019. But casinos say it’s already attracting a new group of guests. As Creighton Men’s Basketball took on NC State on Friday, crowds went wild at Horseshoe and Ameristar Casinos in Council Bluffs. There is no low-stakes March Madness game for any of the 64 teams that take to the field. But the stakes are even higher when the money is on the line with every three-point shot. Ameristar opened Sportsbook when the state legalized sports betting in 2019, and they’ve never looked back. “March Madness is typically one of the busiest sports betting weekends of the entire year,” said Paul Czak, vice president and general manager of Ameristar Casino. “It’s the equivalent of the Super Bowl happening every day for five straight days,” said Jeffrey Cutri, vice president of operations at Harrah’s and Horseshoe Casinos. Casinos say a big draw for people has been in-game live betting, which covers everything from free throw success rates to who will score next. Wagering earns casinos hundreds of thousands in revenue, not to mention the extra foot traffic. “It fills a restaurant, there’s excitement, it’s a great place to watch a game or just hang out. But it introduced guests who didn’t usually spend a lot of time in the casino before, and it’s been good for I think all of us,” Czak said. “Sports betting accounted for over $80 billion in revenue last year in 2022, and it’s expected to grow over 10% in 2023,” said said Cutri.For fans of risk, the rewards can keep you coming, especially when every buzzer can mean a big payday.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa —
It’s the second day of March Madness and the local casinos aren’t complaining about the influx of business.
Iowa is still new to sports betting, which the state legalized in 2019. But casinos say it’s already attracting a new group of guests.
As Creighton Men’s Basketball took on NC State on Friday, crowds went wild at Horseshoe and Ameristar Casinos in Council Bluffs.
There is no low-stakes March Madness game for any of the 64 teams that take to the field. But the stakes are even higher when the money is on the line with every three-point shot.
Ameristar opened Sportsbook when the state legalized sports betting in 2019, and they’ve never looked back.
“March Madness is typically one of the busiest sports betting weekends of the entire year,” said Paul Czak, vice president and general manager of Ameristar Casino.
“It’s the equivalent of the Super Bowl happening every day for five straight days,” said Jeffrey Cutri, vice president of operations at Harrah’s and Horseshoe Casinos.
Casinos say a big draw for people has been in-game live betting, which covers everything from free throw success rates to who will score next.
Wagering earns casinos hundreds of thousands in revenue, not to mention the extra foot traffic.
“It fills a restaurant, there’s excitement, it’s a great place to watch a game or just hang out. But it introduced guests who didn’t usually spend a lot of time in the casino before, and it’s been good for I think all of us,” Czak said.
“Sports betting accounted for more than $80 billion in revenue last year in 2022, and it’s expected to grow more than 10% in 2023,” Cutri said.
For fans of risk, the rewards can keep you coming, especially when every buzzer-beater can mean a big payday.
