Are Skill-Game Apps Legal in Iowa?
This page covers skill-game apps you play on your phone in Iowa. Skill machines in Iowa bars, gas stations and convenience stores are a separate question this page doesn't cover.
Yes, cash play is on in Iowa. Skillz, operated by Firy Inc. (NYSE: FIRY), runs our cash matches and has not switched it off there. 11 of our 12 games offer cash matches in Iowa; Carrom has none anywhere yet. Next door, South Dakota is on that no-cash list, so cash matches stop when you cross into it. Iowa taxes personal income, so prizes may also go on your state return.
That status is Skillz's platform decision for Iowa, not a court ruling, and states use different skill-versus-chance tests.
Which Atay games offer cash play in Iowa
| Game | Cash play in Iowa | US App Store listing, checked Sep 24, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Solitaire Real Cash | Available | Lists 7 states, not Iowa |
| Gin Rummy Cash | Available | Lists 7 states, not Iowa |
| Ball Pool Cash | Available | Lists 11 states, not Iowa |
| Sugar Cash | Available | Lists 5 states, not Iowa |
| Word Money | Available | Lists 5 states, not Iowa |
| Bingo Prizes | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Block Puzzle | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Bubble Prizes | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Crossword Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Pachinko Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Word Search Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Iowa |
| Carrom | Free play only | Cash not yet enabled (open beta) |
Play in Iowa
Every game plays free first, so Iowa players can learn one before any entry fee.
Browse the gamesHow prizes are taxed in Iowa
Iowa taxes personal income, so prizes may go on your Iowa return. The Iowa Department of Revenue decides how Iowa treats them. Federally, prizes are taxable income for Iowa players with or without a tax form; see 1099s and Skillz winnings under $2,000.
Cash play in states bordering Iowa
Crossing from Iowa into South Dakota switches cash matches off.
Questions about skill-game apps in Iowa
Can I play Atay games for cash in Iowa?
Yes, 11 of our 12 games offer cash matches in Iowa. Carrom has no cash play yet.
Does it matter where in Iowa I am?
No. Skillz sets eligibility by state from your phone's location, so Des Moines gets the same answer as any small town in Iowa.
What happens if I cross from Iowa into South Dakota?
Cash matches switch off once your phone is in South Dakota. Free play keeps working, and cash play returns when you are back in Iowa.
Does Iowa tax prizes from skill-game apps?
It can. Prizes are income, and Iowa has a state income tax; check the Iowa Department of Revenue's guidance for your situation.
Correction, September 24, 2026: an earlier version of this page said cash play was not available in Iowa. Skillz's help center lists cash matches as available in Iowa, so we updated the page.
Iowa status per the Skillz help center (eligibility, cash-disabled areas, skill-game legality) and US App Store listings. General information, not legal advice; Skillz can change cash availability.