Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel is a casino in Altoona, Iowa.

*Updated 12/2022

The sportsbook at Prairie Meadows is the only sportsbook in the Des Moines area. It is located off I-80 about 10 miles northeast of downtown.

This review begins with one of their key differentiators – a horse racetrack with live racing. The grandstands are connected to the sportsbook with live thoroughbred and quarter horse racing from May to October. The best part? Admission and parking for the racetrack/sportsbook are completely free.

Setting aside the racetrack – this sportsbook has a lot to offer. One great amenity here is the ability to order food online from any of these casino restaurants: AJ’s Steakhouse, Meadows Cafe, and The Paddock Grill. The only catch with online ordering is that it’s for pickup only (they don’t deliver the food to you at the sportsbook).

Seating within the sportsbook is fairly ample. There are a bunch of tables and chairs scattered across the room. The main seating area in front of the large screen TV has a cozy ‘living room’ feeling. Important note – there are only six large comfortable leather chairs and the sportsbook doesn’t accept seating reservations.

Overall, this sportsbook earns high marks as an oasis for sports bettors visiting or living in Des Moines.

Rating 4.3 Stars (out of 5)

Best Parts

  • Racetrack with live racing connected to the sportsbook

  • ‘Daily Double Deli’ with soups and sandwiches

Worst Parts

  • Only six of the comfortable leather chairs and they don’t take seating reservations

  • Food and drink are self service (no cocktail service)

Layout and Seating

  • Several comfortable oversized leather chairs

  • Numerous additional tables and chairs throughout the sportsbook

  • Centrally located bar with ample seating and TVs

  • Ceiling mounted TV display with LED light accents

  • Separate desk area with individual monitors for horse bettors

Amenities

  • Online food order for pickup from multiple restaurants in the casino

  • ‘Daily Double Deli’ within the sportsbook featuring a small menu of sandwiches and soups

  • Here is a full list of restaurants at Prairie Meadows

  • Several sports betting kiosks available

Policies

  • Smoking is not allowed inside the sportsbook (smoking is allowed in designated areas within the casino only)

  • Desk seating is generally reserved for horse bettors

Rewards

Prairie Meadows Des Moines Sportsbook Images

Prairie Meadows Des Moines Sportsbook 011 - Square Bettor
Prairie Meadows Des Moines Sportsbook 015 - Square Bettor
Prairie Meadows Des Moines Sportsbook 016 - Square Bettor
Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel - Square Bettor

Prairie Meadows Des Moines Sportsbook Corrections and Updates

Please contribute by providing updated information about this sportsbook. We review all submissions and will update this post accordingly.

Your Name
Please correct any inaccurate information or provide additional information which should be added to this sportsbook review.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 300 MB.