Gaming law is generally the law that applies to the gaming or gambling industry, including casinos, lotteries, horse racing, dog racing, sports betting, card games, table games, social gambling, bingo, raffles, slot machines, scratch tickets, etc. Gaming law includes state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations—and legal principles from traditional areas of law, such as contract law, administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, and regulatory law. For example, the federal statute prohibiting illegal gambling businesses is located at 18 U.S.C. §1955.

In Iowa, gaming law encompasses the regulation of various forms of gambling, including but not limited to casinos, lotteries, horse and dog racing, sports betting, social gambling, bingo, raffles, and electronic gaming devices such as slot machines and scratch tickets. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is the primary regulatory body overseeing the gaming industry in the state. Iowa permits licensed casinos to operate within its borders, and the state lottery is also legal. Sports betting became legal in Iowa in May 2019, allowing for both retail and online sportsbooks. Social gambling among individuals is legal under certain conditions, such as the absence of a house profit. Charitable gambling, including bingo and raffles, is permitted and regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. The federal statute 18 U.S.C. §1955, which prohibits illegal gambling businesses, applies in Iowa as it does across the United States, and it works in conjunction with state laws to govern the legality of gambling operations.