Lots of Penny Slots in Waterloo

THE ISLE CASINO & HOTEL, WATERLOO, IOWA

This pretty casino is located on US-218 in Waterloo, Iowa. It opened just one year ago, so a lot of RV travelers still aren't aware that it's here. The 35,000 square-foot casino is actually a riverboat all on one level. It features over 1,100 slots in all denominations and 30 pit/table games. It has Isle of Capri signature Buffet and Farraday's restaurants plus a Starbuck's.

Smoking is still allowed in the casino and there are no separate sections for non-smokers at The Isle. Being seated next to a smoker at a gaming table or slot machine can spoil an otherwise pleasant gaming experience.

To get to The Isle take I-380 to exit 71A and merge onto US-218 south for 1.4 mile, then west on Shaulis Road. On The Isle property, follow signs to the bus parking area west of the casino building. Overnight parking is permitted for self-contained RVs.

No more free electric

If you are using our guide book, Casino Camping, please note that two casinos listed as having free electric hookups in their parking lot, no longer have those hookups.

Diamond Jo Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa is expanding the casino. The section of the parking lot that had the free electric hookups now has a building on top of it. The casino says free overnight parking is still available for RVs. Just ask security where to park.

Coeur D'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho does not have electric hookups available any more. However, the casino still allows free dry camping overnight. Please notify Securityy if you plan to stay.

If you haven't bought your copy of Casino Camping -- a must-have book for every rig -- it is available from the RV Bookstore, and they ship fast! If the book helps you to save just one night's camping fee, it pays for itself.

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Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos
This is the best casino guide for RVers. Learn which casinos have RV parks and which ones offer free overnight stays in their parking lots. The fact is, more casinos all the time are soliciting the business of RVers, and many either offer attractive, bargain-priced campgrounds or a parking lot where RVers are invited to stay for free. Learn more or order.

At the "Top of Iowa"

Finding a place where I can get connected on my lap top has been a bit of a challenge here in northern Iowa. Not too many hot spots. But today I found a little computer work station set up in the "Top of Iowa" Welcome Center -- I-35 exit 214, just south of the MInnesota state line. And, guess what, there's a casino right next door! So while Jack is over there getting acquainted with the dealers, I'm sending you Happy Tuesday greetings from Iowa, the state with many styles of casinos -- riverboats, land-based traditional casinos, racinos (casinos at race tracks) and even one Indian casino on the west side of the state.

The casino at the "Top of Iowa" is the Diamond Jo, opened just about two years ago. It has a huge selection of slots from pennies to dollars. The variety of video poker is somewhat disappointing and there are no nickel or penny poker machines. Live action at the gaming tables includes varied blackjack and poker plus craps and roulette. The buffet at this casino is unique featuring (in addition to the usual menu items) food freh from the fertile farms of Iowa. There's also a Burger King and Starbuck's inside the casino. The casino is open 8am-3am weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.

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New Casino in Iowa

En route to the Winnebago Grand National Rally last week, we made a stop in Clinton, Iowa to see the state's newest casino -- the Wild Rose, a land-based casino about 14 miles west of the Mississippi River and located on the north side of US-30.
This is the second Wild Rose land-based casino in Iowa, the first one being in north-central Iowa in Emmitsburg.

The old Mississippi Belle II, that for many years had been docked on the Mississippi River in Clinton, was purchased by the Wild Rose corporation, then closed and replaced with the new, modern land-based facility.

A "soft opening" was held on June 28, so the casino is now open Sunday thru Thursday 9am-2am and Friday & Saturday 9am-4am. A three-day official grand opening with ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be held July 18, 19 & 20. The Gatlin Brothers will appear in concert for the grand opening festivities.

Many of the new casino's patrons are from Illinois and Wisconsin. The all-new casino is located within a 60-room hotel. It has 600 slots and video poker michines, with odds set at 91.7%, and 16 gaming tables. Food venues include a buffet and a deli.

I took pictures of the new casino, but internet service is very, very spotty up here. Pictures of the new Wild Rose (hopefully) will follow.

Anyone heading for the Winnebago GNR in Forest City, IA... Pre-rally week begins tomorrow (July 13th). GNR Rally is July 20-25th. We're here doing book signings - Look for us on Merchants Row. Also, we're on the program for a seminar on Full-Time RVing, Monday, July 21st.

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Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos
This is the best casino guide for RVers. Learn which casinos have RV parks or offer free overnight stays. Plus information about other casino benefits for RVers. Learn more or order.

More Oklahoma Casinos

There are three RV-Friendly casinos along US-77 in north-central Oklahoma south of the Kansas state line. US-77 is a major north/south route that generally runs parallel to I-35.

Kaw SouthWind Casino is just off US-77, a mile east of the traffic light in downtown Newkirk. The casino has more than 1,000 slots, 7 gaming tables and a restaurant. RV spaces with free electric hookups are located in the east lot.

Native Lights Casino is directly on US-77 north of Newkirk. Owned and operated by the Tonkowa Tribe, the casino is open 24/7 and has free full-hookup RV spaces south of the casino building. There is a cafe in the casino that has 700 slots and 6 tables.

First Council Casino, owned and operated by the Oloe-Missouria Tribe, is closest to Kansas -- just 2 miles south of the state line. The casino has 700 slots, 18 gaming tables, a poker room and buffet. There is a travel center on site where RVs may dry camp.

RV-Friendly casinos throughout the U.S. offer free overnight parking for self-contained RVs. These casinos are listed in Casino Camping, and if it helps you to save just one night's camping fee, the book pays for itself.

So many casinos, so little time

Oklahoma can be considered the Indian casino capitol of the country. Oklahoma has more Native American tribes than any other state and more Indian gaming locations than any other state. A major expansion has been taking place in Oklahoma since November 2004 after a statewide gambling referendum received voter approval. The expanded gambling allows Indian casinos to add live table games and to upgrade their slots to Vegas style machines. The state's three race tracks also benefitted as the referendum allowed them to add slots at the tracks.

Now, travelers in Oklahoma will find casinos everywhere they go, and particularly adjacent to interstates and major highways.

One of our favorite stops in Oklahoma is the Fire Lake Grand Casino, located on Interstate 40 at exit 178. This RV-Friendly casino offers free RV sites with electric hookups and free fresh water and dump station on site. The 20 spaces are all back-in and walking distance to the modern casino that opened last year. The pretty 125,000 square-foot casino has the largest poker room in Oklahoma, 1,800 slots and 100 tables. Free ice cream in the casino, too!

The expansion continues. The newest casino in Oklahoma is poised to open this coming weekend. Downstream Casino Resort, located in the northeastern corner of the state near Kansas and Missouri, will have its grand opening on Saturday, July 5th. It has a high rise hotel, 70,000 square-foot casino, restaurants and retail shops. The easiest way to get to the new casino is from I-44 exit 1 in Missouri, then Highway 166 north, follow signs.

If you are out and about in the RV this summer, don't forget to take the "must-have" guide book for casinos. Casino Camping will help you to find RV-Friendly casinos throughout the U.S. It's available at the RV Bookstore.