Sports betting bringing in big profits for Council Bluffs casinos

Council Bluffs, IA — Sports betting has only been legal in Iowa for a few months now, but it's already proving to be profitable for the state.

It’s been a busy week for the Horseshoe Sportsbook and staff says they only expect it to get even bigger as the big game gets closer.

John Hammerl, who gambles at the sportsbook in the Horseshoe says, "I've got a lot of friends here. They come here, they've been here for many years. We've been here since they've opened up and we appreciate their ability to be able to gamble on the dogs, horses, sporting events and we eat here too."

If you head to the sportsbook this weekend, you're bound to see a crowd.

: "Since it's launched it's definitely been popular. Definitely it's been growing. interest has picked up and you've seen people learning about it and just trying it. Just volumes overall are up," says Samir Mowad, general manager for Caesar’s Iowa.

Ever since sports betting became legal in Iowa, Mowad says the casino has benefited from the extra foot traffic.

More people are playing slots and spending money in retail shops and restaurants.

Even when there aren't a lot of people physically in the book, profits are still up.

Mowad says, "Honestly with the number of football games dwindling down it seems like the quantity has been replaced with quality in terms of these games draw a lot of interest because you're down to the last few teams."

Mowad says it's an exciting time in the world of sports betting and even with football season almost over, he's excited to see what will draw in gamblers next.

"I think that once we get through this weekend I think super bowl week will draw a lot more of an interest. At least that's what we traditionally see in Vegas and in some of the other places where we've had sports betting for a longer period of time," says Mowad.

When it comes to sports betting another thing that gets a lot of people into the doors at the Horseshoe is college basketball games. Partially because of the many local teams in the area.

The staff at the sport book also says Kansas City making it to the play-off’s and now Sunday's championship game has just been the cherry on top of a profitable season for Iowa sports betting.