With more than 1,550 casinos, the United States is, without question, the travel destination for those who love to gamble. Since June, some of the newest casinos have opened in Iowa, Massachusetts, and Washington. In the coming months, new casinos will open in North Carolina, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Wild Rose Casino & Resort in Jefferson, Iowa
When it comes to Iowa, most people think of corn and the movie Field of Dreams. But Iowa is also one of the top destinations for gamblers, with 24 casinos. In fact, Iowa is the number 10 state in the country for commercial gambling. Each year, visitors to Iowa spend approximately $1.5 billion at riverboat, traditional land-based casinos, and racetrack casinos.1
Wild Rose Casino & Resort is located in Jefferson, Iowa, at the junction of Interstate 30 (Lincoln Highway) and highway 4. If you’re driving, it’s about an hour northwest of Des Moines. Wild Rose Casinos are located in Clinton, Emmetsburg, and now Jefferson, Iowa. Corporate offices are located in Des Moines.
While Wild Rose Jefferson Casino quietly opened its doors on July 13, 2015, the official grand opening was on August 1. The 18,000-square-foot Wild Rose Casino Jefferson is open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and is open 24 hours on the weekend. The casino features both classic reel-style and modern video slot machines. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned pro, you can wager anywhere from one penny up to $5.00 per pull. Wild Rose Jefferson also offers 14 different table games and a Players Club.2
Coaches Corner is a deluxe sports bar and grill in the casino with flat screen TVs and a wide variety of entrees and a large selection of spirits, craft beers, and wine. The Wild Rose Jefferson Casino also has a theatre with live entertainment.
The Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, connected to the Wild Rose Casino, is the perfect spot to rest after a successful day of gaming. The hotel features 74 guestrooms, a fitness centre, indoor pool, and whirlpool.
Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Massachusetts
Plainridge Park Casino opened with a toss of the dice on June 24, 2015. Open 24 hours a day, the 106,000-square-foot casino has 1,250 slots and electronic game tables, including video poker and blackjack. The Plainridge Park Casino also has the only live harness racing in the state.3
In addition to watching live racing from the 26,000-square-foot grandstand, guests can also watch live racing simulcast year-round from the 13,000-square-foot clubhouse.
If you get hungry while playing the slots, blackjack, or poker, you can eat at Doug Flutie’s Sport’s Pub, Slack’s Oyster House & Grill, or Revolution 1776 Lounge. There are also three food court eateries and three venues in the racing area.
The Plainridge Park Casino is not a full-service resort and, as a result, is not connected to a hotel. But there are various well-known chains nearby, including the Holiday Inn Express – Plainville, Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel, Hampton Inn – Franklin, Residence Inn – Foxborough, and Residence Inn – Franklin.
12 Tribes Resort Casino in Omak, Washington
12 Tribes Resort Casino, located just 45 minutes south of the Canadian border (Osoyoos, B.C.) in Omak, Washington, is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.4
12 Tribes Resort Casino is the Tribe’s fourth casino venture, joining Mill Bay Casino, Okanogan Casino, and Coulee Dam Casino; however, this is the first Tribal Development to feature a hotel.
The 56,000 square feet of gaming floor offer 500 slot machines playable in denominations ranging from one penny to $1.00. You’ll also be able to play popular table games, including craps, roulette, and blackjack. If poker is more your speed, you can head over to the Poker Room where you can play Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, Crazy Pineapple, and Seven Card Stud. The poker room opens at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with a tournament starting at 7:00 p.m.
12 Tribes Resort Casino also has two full-service restaurants: Camas, for casual dining with an upscale flair; and Yú Asian Bistro, for traditional Cantonese, Szechuan, and Hunan cuisines. For those with a sweet tooth, there is The Sweet Shop; with candy, ice cream, coffee, and confections.
After dinner, you can hit either of the two entertainment hotspots. Revolution is a nightclub that hosts the region’s top DJs. Element 78 is located on the casino floor and offers a wide selection of domestic and imported beer, specialty drinks, cocktails, and wine from around the world.
The all-new hotel at 12 Tribes Resort Casino has 80 guestrooms with 12 luxury suites overlooking the Okanogan Valley, an indoor pool, fitness center, sauna, spa, and 24-hour room service.
U.S. Casino Winnings Subject to 30% Withholding Tax
If you visit the United States and win a significant amount of money gambling or betting on the horses, your gaming and pari-mutuel winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax.
But if you live in country such as Canada, that has signed a U.S. tax treaty, you may be eligible for a refund.
Some of the countries that do not have a U.S. tax treaty but might qualify for a refund, include: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and UAE. Based on a recent court case, winners from these countries may qualify for a refund if they meet certain criteria.
If you win a substantial amount gambling (typically over $1,200), your winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS. If you win $1,200 playing the slots, the casino will pay you $840. The IRS gets to keep the rest.
RMS is the Easiest, Fastest Way to Get Your Money Back
If you’ve been to the U.S. and had 30% of your winnings held back by the IRS, Refund Management Services can help you reclaim a portion or all of your taxable winnings.
Founded by a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1998, RMS is the most reliable and experienced gaming and casino tax refund provider for non-U.S. residents. Only RMS has the One Simple StepTM process. Our customer service agents take care of the rest.
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Sources:
1. “Iowa,” gettoknowgaming.com web site; http://www.gettoknowgaming.org/sites/default/files/AGA_FactSheet_Iowa_3.pdf, last accessed August 31, 2015.
2. “Casino,” Wild Rose Casino Jefferson web site; http://jefferson.wildroseresorts.com/, last accessed August 31, 2015.
3. “Casino,” Plainridge Park Casino web site; http://www.plainridgeparkcasino.com/, last accessed August 31, 2015.
4. 12 Tribes Colville Casinos web site; http://colvillecasinos.com/index.php, last accessed August 31, 2015.