Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs & Sportsbook Review

Casino at Ameristar Council Bluffs

Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, is a stationary riverboat casino on the eastern bank of the Missouri River. The casino’s design complements the city’s history, being reminiscent of its river-town look from the 19th century.

The casino area measures around 38,500 square feet. You can enjoy a  range of video slots and video poker machines of various denominations, including some of the gambling industry’s latest titles.

Those who wish to try the tables can do so on over 20 table games, including classic blackjack, roulette, craps and poker. Players with deeper pockets are welcome to visit the casino’s revamped high-limit room, featuring 51 slots and five table games.

Promotions

Ameristar Council Bluffs frequently runs promotions that give players a chance to win money, prizes or free play at the casino.

All promotions are part to the mychoice loyalty rewards program. You first need to sign up and become a member before being eligible for the rewards.

Slot machines

If you’re exclusively looking to play video slots, there are few places east of Las Vegas that can offer more than Ameristar. The casino currently features over 1,500 slot machines, and will add new titles every now and then.

Ameristar’s collection of video slots offers a variety of titles and denominations. Casual players can find a selection of penny slots, while those who wish to wager a little more can test their luck on $100 machines, 51 of which are in the high-limit area.

Some of the most popular titles in Ameristar Council Bluffs include:

• Buffalo Gold
• Dragon Link
• Double Jackpot Gems Grand Wheel
• Double Jackpot Lion’s Share Grand Wheel
• Fu Dai Lian Lian Dragon
• Fu Dai Lian Lian Panda
• Lightning Link

These games and many others are presented on state-of-the-art stations with comfy chairs and large, curved HD screens that feature crisp graphics and sound effects.

Among the available slots are several games that offer progressive jackpots, which are often worth over $100,000. There is also a solid collection of video poker games.

Table games

While Ameristar is predominantly focused on catering to slot players, it has a decent chunk of table games as well. You can pull up a chair and place your chips on more than 20 tables that feature traditional games such as blackjack, roulette and craps, together with a few specialty games.

Ameristar’s high limit room has five tables where you can wager up to $5,000 per round. As we mentioned, there is no live poker room in the casino, but you can enjoy a few interesting variations of poker by playing against the dealer.

In any case, here is a full list of available table games at Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs:

• Blackjack
• Cajun Stud
• Craps
• Heads Up Hold’em
• Flop Poker
• High Card Flush
• Roulette

If you don’t know how to play some of these games, don’t hesitate to notify the dealers, and they will be more than glad to show you the ropes.

Mychoice rewards program

Under the Penn National Gaming umbrella, Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs is part of the mychoice rewards program that’s available to players at more than 35 Penn National casinos across the country. There are five membership tiers on mychoice:

• Choice: 0-999 points
• Advantage: 1,000-17,999
• Preferred: 18,000-49,999
• Elite: 50,000-199,999
• Owners Club: 200,000+

You’ll get a new membership card every time you reach a new tier. To reach a higher tier, you will need to earn enough tier points. You earn points every time you play casino games, bet at the casino’s sportsbook, dine at one of the participating restaurants or make purchases at participating outlets.

While you’re playing, dining and shopping, you will also earn comp points. You can redeem these points for hotel, restaurant or outlet credits, as well as free play on selected games.

Of course, redeeming comp points is not the only benefit you’ll get from being a mychoice member. Reaching a high enough tier will earn you VIP lounge access and:

• Complimentary drinks while playing
• Discounts at retail shops
• Gated parking
• Free valet
• Priority lines at the front desk and buffet
• Birthday gifts
• Special vacation offers
• Casino promotions
• Dedicated personal hosts
• Low hotel rates
• Access to entertainment pre-sales

All you need to do to become a member is sign up at the player services desk with a valid ID, and you will receive your mychoice card. You can also receive special offers electronically by providing an email address and registering online at mychoice.com.

Mychoice also powers a social casino. By creating an account on mychoice casino, you will gain access to over 100 free video slots and table games and compete with other players through leaderboards. The casino is available on desktop and mobile devices.

Ameristar Council Bluffs sportsbook

Following the legalization of sports betting in Iowa, Ameristar Council Bluffs opened a new sportsbook, which you can find inside Amerisports Bar, one of the casino’s dining venues.

You will be able to place bets on a variety of sports including:

• Auto racing
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Boxing and UFC
• Cycling
• Hockey
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis

Both professional and college sports are available. Bettors can explore various bets, such as moneyline bets, parlays, point spread bets, futures, totals and props.

If you’re new to sports betting, you can visit the Ameristar Council Bluffs official website and read pages dedicated to sports betting terminology and the rules of betting for each available sport.

Amerisports Bar is an ideal location for a sportsbook, as you can grab a drink or a quick bite while watching the game of your interest. The bar is equipped with 50 HDTVs, six sports betting terminals and 10 sports betting kiosks. You can also find two other sports betting kiosks on the casino’s main floor, close to the high limit room.

The sportsbook’s operating hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on workdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. The bar’s kitchen is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs amenities

Ameristar offers more than just games at its Council Bluffs location. You can also enjoy its hotel and a variety of amenities, along with several restaurants.

Hotels near Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs

Ameristar Casino has an adjacent hotel with 160 rooms where you can stay during your visit. Standard rooms fit either two guests (king deluxe) or four guests (queen deluxe).

There are also two types of suites: the Whirlpool King Spa Suite and the Octagon Suite, which also features a spacious whirlpool bath and has a panoramic view of Omaha and the Missouri River.

Both suites provide great comfort, and have amenities such as in-suite dining, a 46-inch HD LED television, mini-fridge and high-speed Wi-Fi. The hotel also has several wheelchair-accessible rooms.

All guests are free to use the hotel’s fitness center and indoor pool. AAA and AARP members are eligible to receive a 10% discount. Booking a room at the hotel will also earn you tier points and comp points on your mychoice card, while higher-tier members can get more discounts and special deals.

Dining options

There are a variety of dining options inside Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs. Everything from a classic buffet to a sports bar to a VIP club will be at your disposal when you want to take a break from playing and want to grab a bite or enjoy your favorite drink:

• Heritage Buffet: Like most casinos, Ameristar features an all-you-can-eat buffet with both American and international cuisine. Browse among Italian, Asian and American stations, and stop by the salad bar to choose from among several types of greens, toppings, dressings and soups.
• Amerisports Bar: This sports-friendly bar hosts 50 TV sets and a sportsbook. Enjoy slow-smoked ribs, burgers, fajitas and many other dishes while watching a game with your friends.
• Bella’s Bakery & Cafe: A perfect place for enjoying a quick bite with a wide selection of sandwiches, pizzas and salads.
• Double Down Dogs: If you’re looking to curb your late-night cravings, stop by Double Down Dogs on the first level of the casino and enjoy some dogs with a cold glass of domestic or imported beer.
• Club 38: Club 38 is a VIP club for Preferred, Elite and Owners Club members of the mychoice rewards program. Get complimentary food and drink and enjoy a different special every day.

Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs history

Ameristar opened for business in 1996, and it was originally a 272-foot-long and 98-foot wide riverboat. Since only riverboat casinos were allowed, Ameristar was required to set sail every day from April to October. The casino has been permanently docked since 2013, and it remains the only riverboat casino in Council Bluffs.

Ameristar was owned by Ameristar Casinos Inc. before the company was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment in 2013. Penn National Gaming purchased Ameristar Casinos in 2018.