Russ Mitchell, Author at Play Iowa

Iowa Lottery Facts And Tips For That Huge Mega Millions Jackpot

The lines are begginning to form at Iowa convenience stores and customer service counters as the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot awaits Friday’s drawing. Technically, the estimated jackpot is at $1.1 billion as of Thursday night, according to an Iowa Lottery and Mega Millions update: “When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict […]

Posted on: July 28, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

Iowa Casino Concerts: Here’s What To Do For The Rest Of 2022

Amy Grant or Slaughter? An American Idol winner or an America’s Got Talent winner? Pat Benetar or Lita Ford? The brothers from Hanson or the Bellamy Brothers? Don’t overlook Iowa casino concerts when you’re looking for a night of entertainment. It’s not just big-name concerts at the Iowa casinos either. The list below includes free […]

Posted on: July 25, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

Iowa Casino Crime: Prairie Meadows Winner Sees Good Luck Go Bad

Luck at an Iowa casino turned into terror on the roadway after two drivers forced a jackpot winner to the side of the road and robbed her of her Prairie Meadows casino winnings. Des Moines Police have one of the drivers in custody. Authorities booked Timothy Jacob Spencer into the Polk County Jail at 2:37 […]

Posted on: July 21, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

New Iowa Bets in 2022 Include Cornhole, Cy Youngs And Coin Tosses

They dress like bowlers and their boards have a brat sponsor. But the American Cornhole League is on CBS channels so of course it was just a matter of time before the sport became an approved wager in Iowa. DraftKings Sportsbook Iowa gets credit for asking the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) to add […]

Posted on: July 15, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

Big Ten Realignment Or New Big 12 Schools? Big Sky’s Wistrcill Is A Superconference Sherpa From Iowa

Tom Wistrcill had some fun on Twitter not long after the SEC shook up the college sports landscape by poaching Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 less than a year ago. The Big Sky Conference Commissioner — who grew up in Spencer, Iowa — offered the Big Ten a playful lifeboat at the dawn […]

Posted on: July 12, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

June 2022 Iowa Sports Betting Numbers Remain Strong In Ramp Up To Football Season

Even with the seasonal summer slowdown, Iowa keeps setting new sports betting benchmarks. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) recorded a record-breaking number when it completed its audit of June 2022 sports betting numbers on Friday. Iowa casinos and their 18 sportsbook partners collected $122.4 million in sports bets for the month. That is […]

Posted on: July 8, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

Iowa’s Dollar Game, Lotto America, Adds Another Drawing

In less than two weeks, Iowa’s throwback lotto game will add a drawing. Starting July 18, Lotto America will hold its first Monday drawing, according to Iowa Lottery officials in Clive. The game already has Wednesday and Saturday drawings. If the Monday–Wednesday–Saturday schedule sounds familiar, Powerball holds drawings on the same nights. Iowa Lottery officials […]

Posted on: July 6, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

Montana Man Sentenced After Gambling Away Iowa Derecho Victim’s Repair Money

A Belgrade, Montana man will spend 14 months in prison after he posed as a handyman and gambled away a disabled Iowan’s derecho repair money at an Iowa casino. William Allen Hurlbut Jr. received the prison sentence Thursday in US District Court. In a plea agreement, and at his plea and sentencing hearings, Hurlbut admitted […]

Posted on: July 5, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

New Law Keeps Horse Betting Simulcasts At Three Iowa Casinos

Customers in Clinton, Emmetsburg and Jefferson can still plan get-togethers to watch a simulcast and bet on horse racing at the local Iowa casinos. For awhile in 2022, future weekends watching the Kentucky Derby or a routine schedule of races seemed in doubt. Here’s why: The three Wild Rose casinos had an agreement with the […]

Posted on: June 30, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell

2022 Wimbledon Will Be Weird, So We Checked With Betfred To Figure Out The Odds

Tennis isn’t the biggest bet in Iowa, but Grand Slam events like 2022 Wimbledon will still draw plenty of interest compared to other tour events. Play begins at 5 a.m. Iowa time on Monday, so get up early each day for live bets or place your pre-match wagers the night before. From there, players will wear […]

Posted on: June 24, 2022 | | Russ Mitchell