How Do I Apply for a Social Gambling License?

DIAL’s licensing system makes it easy to complete applications and renewals online for those:

  • Conducting charitable gambling,
  • Conducting/allowing social gambling,
  • Conducting amusement concession gambling, or
  • Selling bingo/electronic raffle equipment or supplies.

Please note: The application fees are non-refundable. Please make sure to complete all required fields and attach any required documentation. Follow the SCG Online User Guide for step-by-step instructions.

DIAL must issue a license before any distribution begins. Please be aware that DIAL has a 30-day processing time for gambling applications. DIAL cannot guarantee to process your application in time for your activity if these timelines are not met, or if your application is incomplete. 

License duration: 2 years
Cost: $150 for a bar or $100 if no liquor license is present on the premises

Regulations Specific to these Licenses

“Social gambling” means an activity in which social games are played between individuals for any sum of money or other property of any value. “Social games” means card and parlor games, including but not limited to poker, pinochle, pitch, gin rummy, bridge, euchre, hearts, cribbage, dominoes, checkers, chess, backgammon, pool, and darts. “Social games” do not include casino-style games, except poker. 

Participants must be 21 to participate. 

No one person can win or lose more than $200 at any time during a 24-hour period of time. 

A bona-fide social relationship beyond that apparent in the gambling situation, must exist between all participants involved in the social games. 

The following activities are not permissible under these licenses:

  • Bingo
  • Raffles
  • Poker Runs
  • Poker Tournaments
  • Roll-of-the-day
  • Bookmaking
  • Casino-style games other than poker 

Sports Betting Pools are permitted only under the Social Gambling-Beer & Liquor Establishments license. 

Regulations Specific to Sports Betting Pools

Sports betting pools must consist of a grid with squares on the grid corresponding to numbers on two intersecting sides of the grid. Winners are determined by whether the square selected corresponds to numbers relating to an athletic event in the manner prescribed by the posted rules of the pool. 

The numbers along the top and side of the grid must be either concealed or not assigned until the entire grid is full. The numbers shall be selected by a random method and no person shall be aware of the numbers at the time participants wager to enter the pool. 

The rules including the cost per square and the amounts to be awarded shall be conspicuously displayed on or near the pool. 

A participant shall not wager more than $5 to enter the pool.

All moneys wagered in the pool shall be awarded as winnings to participants. 

The maximum winnings awarded to all participants shall not exceed $500.

Sports betting pools must only be for one single game or race and not for a multi-contest event such as the World Series, NCAA tournament, etc. 

The most popular grid is a 10x10 format. Other popular alternatives are a 5x5 grid for a bar predicting less interest from patrons or a 40x3 grid for NASCAR. The 5x5 grid uses two numbers per column and two numbers per row. The NASCAR grid uses 40 rows with the numbers corresponding to the driver’s starting positions and 3 columns with the numbers corresponding to the driver’s finishing positions. The grids are required to have a minimum of two columns. 

Sample Sports Betting Pool Grid

What You Need to Apply

  • To fully complete the Social Gambling application. 
  • Non-refundable $150/$100 license fee.
  • Liquor license number if the premise is a bar. If you have any questions on this, you can visit the Alcohol page on the Iowa Department of Revenue website or call 515.281.7400 for assistance.  
  • A copy of all scenarios of Sports Betting Pools that the bar plans to conduct. For example, if the bar plans to conduct a $1 baseball grid paying out per inning, a $1 football grid paying out per quarter, a $1 basketball grid paying out per half, and a $5 football grid paying out per quarter then all four grids must be filled out separately. A blank copy of a 10x10 grid can be found here for reference. When completing the application on-line, the information needed for each grid may be entered directly on the form.   
  • The person listed as the responsible party must submit the application. 

After You Apply

Once DIAL receives the application with the required documentation, DIAL will review it. If approved, DIAL will mail the license to the applicant. Please note that the license is not valid until you receive it. It is only valid during the period mentioned on the license.

You may call 515.281.6848 or send an email to scg@iowa.gov with any questions.

Contact Information

Send all completed forms and applications to: