Essential, centralized support services for the department are coordinated by and through the Administration Division. Staff attached to the Director's Office oversees all strategic planning, legislative affairs, administrative rulemaking, personnel, and public information activities for the department.  The Director's Office also supervises all inspections performed by the department's Inspections Division, including food safety inspections conducted at restaurants, grocery stores, and food processing plants, as well as sanitation inspections performed at barber and cosmetology shops, and hotels and motels.  The State of Iowa's Social and Charitable Gambling Program is located within the Administration Division, as is the Targeted Small Business (TSB) Certification Program.

Indian Gaming Compacts

The Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals is authorized to enter into and implement agreements or compacts between the State of Iowa and Native American tribes located in the state. Gaming compacts are entered into under the authority of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C section 2701 et seq.). The agreements or compacts shall contain provisions intended to implement the policies and objectives of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Three tribal gaming compacts were first negotiated in 1992, authorizing casino-type gaming in the State of Iowa:

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska began operation of WinnaVegas Casino near Sloan on April 30, 1992.

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska began operation of CasinOmaha near Onawa on June 22, 1992.

The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa began operation of Meskwaki Bingo and Casino near Tama on December 31, 1992.

Contact information for the Indian Gaming operations in the State of Iowa may be viewed or downloaded here.

View Compacts

Click on the link below to view/download a copy of the most recent Indian Gaming Compact:

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa

For more information, contact Dean Lerner, Director, Department of Inspections and Appeals, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0083.