The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) reported a month-on-month rise in sports betting revenue for August, while the US state also saw its handle more than double during the month.
Revenue amounted to $3.0m, up 36.4% from $2.2m in July, as the state continued its recovery from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) shutdown, which caused all casinos to close from mid-March until June 1.
Player spending also improved month-on-month, with Iowa’s handle for August totalling $50.3m, representing a 119.7% increase from $22.9m in July.
Online remained the primary source of income for operators in the state, with revenue here reaching $1.6m after players wagered $35.0m through licensed platforms.
However, retail continued to close the gap, with more consumers returning to land-based facilities following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in Iowa. Retail revenue amounted to $1.4m, while retail handle came in at $15.3m.
Players won $47.3m from sports betting in August – $33.4m online and $15.3m at retail facilities – while licensed operators paid $202,316 in taxes.
In terms of individual operators, Prairie Meadows, partnered with William Hill, remained the market leader with $692,929 in sports betting revenue off $14.2m in wagers during the month.
Diamond Jo Worth Casino – partnered with FanDuel – followed with $414,016 in revenue and a handle of $3.0m, then Penn National Gaming’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs and DraftKings on $342,010 in revenue and a $3.9m handle.
Other stand-out performers in August included Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, which posted $193,321 in revenue off a $1.9m handle, while the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort reported $181,873 in revenue and handle totalling $3.7m.
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo was just behind with some $181,624 in revenue and a $4.3m handle.
Catfish Bend Casino, the Isle of Capri in Bettendorf, Q Casino and the Wild Rose casinos in Clinton, Emmetsburg and Jefferson also reported revenue in excess of $100,000 in August.
The Casino Queen in Marquette was the only licensed operator not to post any revenue from sports betting, having not taken any wagers during the month.