Journey to Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota -- March 30, 2006

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Journey to Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota

A few months back, I received an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a luncheon organized by the Iowa Actuaries Club. Thus, on February 27, I embarked on a trip to Des Moines—the last of the eight states I needed to visit to complete my goal of seeing all 50 states. The conference went smoothly, and I was greatly impressed by the warm hospitality in the Midwest. For instance, when I requested a tour of the capitol building, not only did I get a personal tour guide, but an additional staff member joined us due to a new policy against one-on-one tours.

Based on what I know, Iowa was the pioneer state in the Midwest to legalize gambling, and it has consistently embraced it since. I initially anticipated just riverboat casinos in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. To my surprise, I discovered slot machines operating in convenience stores. When I inquired with the clerk regarding their legality, he quickly corrected me, clarifying that they were actually “pull tab machines” rather than traditional slot machines. You could’ve fooled me; they resembled the video slots we see here in Las Vegas. During my trip, I learned that these were newly legalized lottery games, which sparked quite a bit of debate.

I also didn’t realize there was a full-scale land-based casino named Prairie Meadows located on the outskirts of Des Moines. This casino was connected to a dog racing track, though there were no races happening when I visited. Overall, the gaming conditions were pretty favorable in this non-competitive setting. Here are some key details:

• Video poker (Cash back = 1/3 of 1%):
  • 9/6 Jacks or better (99.54%)
  • 7/5 Bonus Poker (98.01%)
  • 9/7 Double Bonus (99.11%)
  • 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%)
  • 940/50/17 Joker Poker (98.44%)
  • 25/15/9/4 Deuces Wild (98.91%)
• Blackjack: utilizing 6 decks, the dealer hits on a soft 17, resplitting aces is allowed, and no surrender options are available. The house edge is calculated at 0.54%.
• Craps: 10x odds
• Roulette: Double zero
• Three Card Poker: Offers full pay (1/4/5 on Ante Bonus, 1/4/6/30/40 on Pair Plus).

While I was in Iowa, I thought it would be a good opportunity to check off two additional states from my list: Nebraska and South Dakota.

Following the conference, I made my way west to Council Bluffs, Iowa, which features two fully operational casinos: The Ameristar and Harrah’s. Additionally, the Bluff’s Run dog track included a casino; however, when I visited, only slots were available for playing. There was a plethora of new table games in a pit area still undergoing construction. A security guard shared the anticipated grand opening date with me, but I can’t recall it now; it’s likely that they have since opened.

Both Ameristar and Harrah’s are described as riverboat casinos. The 'riverboat casinos' I visited in Biloxi were massive operations, whereas the ones along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers were actual boats that seemed capable of navigating the water. Consequently, they are usually modest in size, typically featuring two to three floors. Even on a Tuesday evening, both casinos in Council Bluffs were bustling with activity. I should also mention that alcoholic drinks were not complimentary for players, and no alcohol was served after a certain cutoff time. In terms of the overall vibe, I found both venues to be fairly similar, but the gaming rules are what truly matter to me. Here’s what I encountered.

Taking everything into account, Harrah’s earns the title for offering superior video poker options. The other games I observed followed the same rules. Nevertheless, Harrah’s should be criticized for offering 6 to 5 on double deck blackjack.

The following morning, I crossed the bridge into Omaha, Nebraska, marking my entrance into my 44th state. Just six more to go! I explored the downtown area but found limited activities. I did notice the Woodman insurance building, which was where Jack Nicholson’s character worked in 'About Schmidt,' but I had no idea it was a real company.

I didn’t linger in Nebraska for long because I aimed to touch base in another state and return to Des Moines on the same day. Therefore, I ventured back into Iowa and headed north, planning to visit the Argosy casino in Sioux City. However, a billboard advertising Winna Vegas Native American casino caught my eye, and since it was only a few miles off the highway, I decided to make a brief stop.

Upon arrival, an Indigenous person graciously opened the door for me, which was a nice gesture. The casino itself was small, yet in comparison to Council Bluffs, it was comfortably less congested. I misplaced my notes, but the gaming rules were quite similar to those in Council Bluffs. What delighted me, however, was the exceptional blackjack game I encountered there, which had impressive odds. The rules mirrored those from Council Bluffs but included enticing bonuses provided the minimum bet was $10.

• 6-7-8 unsuited paid bonus of $50
• 7-7-7 unsuited paid bonus of $50
• 6-7-8 suited paid bonus of $100
• 7-7-7 suited paid bonus of $100
• Two consecutive blackjacks offered a bonus of $50.
• Three consecutive blackjacks garnered a bonus of $100.
• Four consecutive blackjacks rewarded a bonus of $200.

Once I returned home, I took the time to evaluate the benefits of the 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 bonus structures. While I was at it, I documented my findings in blackjack appendix 11 .

Upon totaling everything, I discovered that the game had a player advantage of 1.89% with a $10 bet. Despite the extensive travel ahead of me that day, I devoted about two hours playing this game. The dealer mentioned they discontinued a Caribbean Stud Poker game and were redirecting the jackpot funds back to players via these bonuses. Following this, I contacted the table games manager from Vegas, who mentioned they had $170,000 to return to players. This promotion started in December 2005 with even more favorable rules and was expected to run through April. So, I'd recommend giving it a go while you can!

Eventually, I departed and made my next visit to the Argosy Casino in Sioux City. Interestingly, they had a notice stating 'Slot Payback 91.60% effective 7/1/04.' It strikes me as odd that they would highlight such a low payout percentage. Here are the gaming rules that I was able to observe.

• Video Poker: 7/5 Jacks or Better (96.15%), 16/13 Deuces Wild (96.77%), 8/5 Double Bonus (94.19%), 7/5 Double Double Bonus (95.71%), Joker Poker - aces or better (94.27%)
• Roulette: Double zero
• Craps: 2x odds
• Blackjack: 6 decks, dealer hits soft 17, with no options for surrender or resplitting aces. House edge of 0.62%.

After spending no more than five minutes there, I was back in my rental vehicle and en route to South Dakota. I opted for surface streets to avoid the monotony of a boring interstate drive. I navigated onto Military Rd, crossed the Big Sioux River, and officially entered my 45th state. To my surprise, South Dakota also had an extensive array of video poker bars. I ventured into one of them, which featured an assortment of outdated machines by lesser-known manufacturers. I recorded notes on one deuces wild pay table but unfortunately misplaced them. The establishment was nearly empty, with just a disinterested bartender and an elderly lady engrossed in one of the games. Therefore, I don’t have substantial information to share about South Dakota. Out of all 45 states I’ve visited, South Dakota surely had the briefest stay, lasting only about ten minutes.

Only five states remain: Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and Kentucky. A single trip to Yellowstone will allow me to cross out two of these. However, I shouldn’t get too carried away. A fellow I met a fortnight ago at the Nevada International License Plate Society gathering in Henderson is on a mission to visit every county in the country.

On April 10, I plan to finally visit one of the fully developed casinos in California, the Pala located near San Diego. Unlike my brief stop in South Dakota, I intend to stay overnight and expect to have plenty to share in my next update.

Ask the Wizard!

Here's an excerpt from the newest Ask the Wizard , column #159.

My boyfriend and I have been dating for about a month and a half. Since we attend different schools, I sometimes worry because a girl he used to talk to is at his school. She isn't exactly a nice person, and it makes me wonder if he is still seeing her. Is he unfaithful? - Zaneta from Colorado Springs

You know the saying: absence makes the heart grow fonder.

(Read more Ask the Wizard .)

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