Riverside Casino & Golf Resort is a casino hotel in Riverside, Iowa, south of Iowa City, with 201 hotel rooms, live poker, a retail sportsbook, and an 18-hole golf course. Its strongest reason to visit is the combination: gambling, dinner, swimming, and golf can all fit into one stay. The trade-off is its drive-to setting rather than a walkable entertainment district. I would shortlist it for couples and groups planning an overnight getaway, especially when not everyone wants to spend the whole visit gambling.
Riverside Casino at a glance
| Address | 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA 52327 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino, hotel, and golf resort |
| Casino hours | 24-hour gaming; individual venues have separate schedules |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Gaming floor | 51,598 square feet, according to the state regulator |
| Slot machines | Approximately 894, based on the regulator’s listed inventory |
| Table games | 37 listed by the regulator, not necessarily open simultaneously |
| Poker room | Yes |
| Retail sportsbook | Elite Sportsbook |
| Hotel | 201 rooms |
| Pool | Year-round indoor pool and seasonal outdoor pool, subject to closures |
| Parking | On-site parking; complimentary valet Thursday through Saturday |
| Phone | 319-648-1234 |
| Official hotel information | Rooms, amenities, and reservations |
What kind of casino is Riverside?
Riverside sits between a regional gambling stop and a full resort getaway. You can visit for a few hours, but the hotel, golf course, pool, spa, and dining make a stronger case for staying overnight than the casino floor alone.
I like that setup for a group with different interests. Golfers have a reason to come, non-gamblers have alternatives, and everyone can meet for dinner without another drive. Choose it for what is on the property, not for an evening of wandering between downtown restaurants and bars.
For other destinations around the state, see our Iowa casinos guide.
Casino floor and games
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s facility listing gives Riverside a 51,598-square-foot casino with 894 slot machines and 37 table games. These are listed inventory figures, not a guarantee of availability. The regulator does not explain whether its table count includes poker.
The useful distinction is the range: Riverside offers machine gambling, live tables, player-versus-player poker, and retail sports betting rather than relying on slots alone.
Slots and video poker
With roughly 894 slots in the listed inventory, machine players have a substantial selection to explore. I would choose Riverside for the overall floor rather than make a special trip for a particular cabinet. Titles and denominations can change.
If video poker is your priority, ask about your preferred game and denomination before traveling, then inspect the pay table before playing. For slots, check the full cost per spin: a low denomination does not necessarily mean a small total wager.
A large selection is not evidence of better payouts. Neither a losing session nor someone else’s jackpot tells you what your next spin will do.
Table games
Riverside offers live table games, but 37 listed tables does not mean 37 staffed tables at every hour. If one game is the reason for your trip, call ahead for the current lineup, hours, and limits.
My advice is to compare rules as well as minimum bets. At blackjack, the payout and dealer rules matter alongside the price of a hand. An inexpensive seat is not automatically the best-value seat.
Poker room
Riverside has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room, separate from video poker or poker-themed games played against the house.
For a poker-focused trip, ask which cash games are running, what the stakes are, and how the waiting list works. Check the current tournament schedule rather than relying on an older event listing. A poker room is useful only if it has a game you want to join.
Elite Sportsbook
Riverside has an on-property retail Elite Sportsbook, as identified by the state regulator. This is a retail betting offering, not merely sports televisions or an associated app.
Confirm counter hours and available betting services before making a special trip. Around-the-clock casino gaming does not establish around-the-clock sportsbook counter service. Keep any retail ticket until the wager is settled and you have collected any winnings.
Hotel rooms: when staying overnight makes sense
The 201-room hotel is most useful when your plans extend beyond a short gambling session. Dinner, an evening event, and an early tee time make a stronger case for booking a room than an hour at the slots does.
Choices include deluxe kings, deluxe double queens, king suites, grand master suites, and accessible king and double queen rooms. The hotel lists complimentary Wi-Fi and in-room refrigerators; microwaves are listed for suites only. That distinction matters if you expect to reheat food during a longer stay.
- Compare the final price: Include taxes and any applicable mandatory fees, not just the first nightly rate shown.
- Read the booking terms: Confirm cancellation conditions, check-in, and check-out.
- Check package restrictions: Packages depend on availability and may not be offered during special events.
- Request specific accessibility features: An accessible-room label does not establish that a room has every feature you need.
Dog-friendly rooms and fees
Dog-friendly rooms are available by request for an additional $50 per pet per stay, not per night. In an illustrative stay with two approved dogs, pet fees total $100 before any unlisted charges. Confirm room availability and approval for your dogs before booking.
Pool access and wristband costs
The official pool information makes an important distinction: included admission depends on room category.
- Deluxe king: Two wristbands.
- Deluxe double queen: Four wristbands.
- Suites: Six wristbands.
- Additional daily wristbands: $25 each.
For an illustrative four-person party, buying two wristbands beyond a deluxe king’s allocation adds $50 before any unlisted charges. Compare room categories using their included pool access as well as their rates. Confirm permitted room occupancy separately; extra wristbands do not establish how many people may stay in a room.
When a pool gazebo may be better value
Here is the comparison I find most useful: six standalone daily wristbands total $150. The published Monday-through-Wednesday full-day gazebo rental is also $150 and includes up to six wristbands, seating, towels, water, and other listed amenities. Shared equally by six people, that rental works out to $25 per person before any unlisted charges.
For a full group buying admission anyway, the weekday gazebo is worth checking before purchasing separate passes. The comparison is different for hotel guests who already receive wristbands with their room.
Thursday through Sunday, the listed gazebo price is $200 for hotel guests and $300 for non-hotel guests, a $100 difference per rental. For six non-hotel guests sharing equally, the $300 rate works out to $50 per person before any unlisted charges. The hotel-guest discount alone is not a reason to book a room.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Riverside pool admission: Daily pass price and purchase locations | Daily pool wristbands are listed at $25.00 and sold through the hotel front desk, golf shop, and spa. |
| Riverside hotel room types: Included pool wristbands by room type | Deluxe King rooms include two wristbands, Deluxe Double Queen rooms include four, and suites include six; pool access therefore differs by room category. |
| Riverside pool access: Hotel-guest admission versus additional admission | Registered hotel guests receive complimentary wristbands according to room type; additional wristbands are sold separately. |
| Riverside gazebo rentals: Thursday–Sunday hotel versus non-hotel price | The listed rental is $200.00 for hotel guests versus $300.00 for non-hotel guests, with up to six wristbands included. |
| Riverside gazebo rentals: Monday–Wednesday price and inclusions | The published full-day rental is $150.00, including up to six wristbands. |
| Riverside gazebo rentals: Reservation lead time and capacity | Gazebos must be reserved at least 24 hours ahead and accommodate up to six guests. |
| Riverside pool seating: Ordinary lounge-chair availability | Ordinary lounge chairs are first come, first serve and cannot be saved with towels or personal belongings. |
| Riverside pool: Outside food and beverage policy | Outside food, beverages, and coolers are prohibited, which matters when budgeting for a pool outing. |
| Riverside swimming facilities: Indoor versus outdoor availability | The indoor pool is advertised as year-round, while the outdoor pool is seasonal; management may close the pool area without notice. |
| Riverside hotel: Dog-friendly room availability and fee | Dog-friendly rooms are available by request for an additional $50.00 per pet per stay. |
| Riverside hotel rooms: Refrigerator versus microwave availability | In-room refrigerators are listed generally, while microwaves are listed for suites only. |
| Riverside hotel: Wi-Fi cost | The hotel lists complimentary Wi-Fi among its in-room amenities. |
| Riverside spa access: Additional fees | The hotel amenities page flags additional fees for access to the spa’s amenities; do not treat all spa access as included with a room. |
| Riverside hotel packages: Availability restrictions | Packages are subject to availability and may not be offered during special events. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone pool admission for an illustrative group of six | $150.00 per group, before any unlisted charges | Compare standalone admission with the weekday gazebo offer before booking; the gazebo includes wristbands and reserved amenities, while ordinary lounge chairs are first come, first serve. |
| Monday–Wednesday gazebo cost per person when shared by six | $25.00 per person, before any unlisted charges | A full group can spread the weekday rental cost across everyone using the included wristbands. Reserve ahead rather than assuming a gazebo will be available on arrival. |
| Thursday–Sunday non-hotel gazebo cost per person when shared by six | $50.00 per person, before any unlisted charges | For a shared gazebo outing, distinguish the non-hotel rate from the hotel-guest rate, and compare it with ordinary admission if reserved seating is not important. |
| Thursday–Sunday gazebo premium for non-hotel guests | $100.00 per gazebo rental | Hotel guests receive a lower gazebo rate during this part of the week, but that discount alone does not establish whether booking a room is worthwhile. |
| Additional pool admission for an illustrative four-person Deluxe King party | $50.00 in additional pool admission, before any unlisted charges | Compare room types using their included pool access as well as their room rates. Do not assume pool wristband availability establishes permitted room occupancy. |
| Dog fee for an illustrative stay with two dogs | $100.00 per stay in pet fees, before any unlisted charges | The published fee is assessed per pet per stay rather than per night. Confirm dog-friendly room availability and permission for the party’s dogs before booking. |
Research references: riversidecasinoandresort.com 1, riversidecasinoandresort.com 2.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-17. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Gazebos accommodate up to six guests and must be reserved at least 24 hours ahead. Ordinary lounge chairs are first come, first served, and cannot be held with towels or belongings. Outside food, drinks, and coolers are prohibited, so budget for on-site purchases.
The indoor pool is advertised as year-round; the outdoor pool is seasonal. Weather, private events, or other circumstances can close the pool area without notice. If swimming is central to your trip, check availability close to arrival.
Restaurants and bars
The hotel’s dining roster names Robert’s Buffet, 22 & Vine, Draft Day, and Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood. That gives overnight visitors alternatives without leaving the property, although four names do not mean four options at every mealtime.
Ruthie’s is the obvious starting point for a steak-and-seafood dinner. The hotel points to 22 & Vine for a quick bite. Check current menus and service schedules for Robert’s Buffet and Draft Day before building plans around them.
I would settle dinner plans before an event rather than squeeze a meal between check-in and showtime. Check reservations for a special dinner, and leave some breathing room in the schedule.
Golf, spa, and entertainment
Blue Top Ridge, the resort’s 18-hole Rees Jones-designed course, is a reason to consider Riverside for more than gambling. Secure your preferred tee time before treating a golf weekend as settled. Compare packages with separate room and golf bookings using the same dates and inclusions.
The property also has a fitness center, an indoor hot tub, a spa, and scheduled entertainment. Spa amenities carry additional fees, so do not assume a room includes unrestricted spa access. Reserve treatments ahead if they are important to the stay.
Under the spa cancellation policy, canceling less than 24 hours before an appointment costs the full price of the service.
For entertainment, check the specific event’s start time, seating, age restrictions, and ticket conditions. A venue is an amenity, not a guarantee of a show on your chosen night.
Parking and practical visit information
Riverside is at 3184 Highway 22. Plan it as a drive-to resort visit, and arrange any necessary return transportation before the evening begins.
The hotel advertises on-site parking and complimentary valet on this schedule:
- Thursday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Do not plan a Sunday arrival around valet service.
Smoke-sensitive visitors should ask about the casino floor, shared spaces, and room location before booking. A nonsmoking room designation does not answer every question about the route between lodging, dining, and gambling.
Keep lodging, dining, golf, pool extras, spa treatments, and event costs separate from your gambling bankroll. A useful trip budget still works when there are no winnings to pay for dinner.
My take: who should choose Riverside?
I would favor Riverside for couples and small groups who want golf, dinner, pool time, and gambling in one overnight trip, rather than a casino stop with a bed attached. Its hotel and range of activities make staying on-site practical, but value depends on which extras you actually use. Choose a different setting if walking to independent restaurants and bars is central to your getaway, and compare room categories carefully when pool access matters.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to gamble at Riverside Casino?
You must be at least 21 to gamble. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Does Riverside Casino have a poker room and sportsbook?
Yes. Riverside has a dedicated poker room and an on-property retail Elite Sportsbook. Check current games, stakes, and service hours before a visit centered on either one.
Is pool admission included with a hotel room?
Registered guests receive two wristbands with a deluxe king, four with a deluxe double queen, and six with a suite. Additional daily wristbands are listed at $25 each.
Can you swim outdoors year-round?
No. The outdoor pool is seasonal. The indoor pool is advertised as year-round, subject to closures.
Does Riverside allow dogs?
Dog-friendly rooms are available by request for an additional $50 per pet per stay. Confirm availability and approval before booking. Pets are not allowed in the pool area.
Is valet available every day?
No. The published complimentary valet schedule covers Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with different closing times.