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  The UI has accepted $98,600 in advertising from the casino through Hawkeye Sports Properties, which handles marketing at Iowa athletic events and venues.

  And the casino, which opened Aug. 31, also purchased an 18-seat luxury suite at Kinnick Stadium for $55,000 this year.

  But with a perpetual hotbutton political topic like gambling, the university walks a tight and unforgiving line in its relationship with a casino.

  ‘‘There’s been discussions about philosophy, if it’s the right thing to do,’’ said Rick Klatt, Iowa’s associate athletics director for external affairs. ‘‘I guess I’ll leave it at that.’’

  Bob Bowlsby, former Iowa athletics director, approved the business relationship because it was built with specific advertising guidelines, Klatt said. There are distinctions between advertising heard on Hawkeye Radio Network and those appearing at university venues.

  For instance, the word ‘‘casino’’ is allowed in one 30-second spot during the pregame broadcast and one 30-second spot on the postgame broadcast. The casino also is mentioned on the opening and closing billboards for football broadcasts.

  But references to the casino are prohibited from appearing on Kinnick Stadium or Carver-Hawkeye Arena signage. Gambling references also are omitted from an advertisement that appears on HawkeyeSports. com and a full-page color ad that appears in the Hawkeye football game program. The resort brands itself as ‘‘Riverside Hotel & Golf Resort’’ in those advertisements.

  ‘‘We draw the line when you come on to campus,’’ Klatt said.

  Klatt said the radio network had allowed previous advertising from gambling establishments, such as Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, but the school never has accepted it on campus.

  Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said his department recognizes the sensitivity between collegiate sports and gambling.

  ‘‘Right now, we feel comfortable,’’ he said. ‘‘Because of the location of the facility, a lot of our fans make it part of their weekend.’’

  In its effort to attract customers, Riverside Casino & Golf Resort emphasizes a relationship with the university. Along with its advertising campaign, the resort offers round-trip service to Kinnick Stadium on home games for guests and the public.

  Iowa football also makes an impact on its weekend foot traffic, both at the casino and the hotel.

  ‘‘We definitely do see an increase in the occupancy rate on both Fridays and Saturdays,’’ Sharon Haselhoff, the resort’s public relations director, said about Hawkeye home dates. ‘‘They’re definitely the busiest times in the hotel.

  ‘‘As for numbers on the weekends, the only difference on home football games is the timing of the flow of the traffic on the casino floor, especially if it’s a morning game.’’

  Haselhoff said casino traffic is bunched together after the game on those days, whereas it’s spread out on non-home dates.

  The experience also has become part of a weekend swing through Eastern Iowa for gambling football fans. Jake and Joan Syfert, who are from Keosauqua, spent Oct. 7 cheering the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium for an 11 a.m. game. On their way home to southeast Iowa, the couple stopped in Riverside, where they were joined by dozens of fans in black and gold.

  Jake Syfert joked that the location was too convenient for him.

  ‘‘We enjoy the slot machines,’’ he said. ‘‘We won a Hawkeye game today, so we’re pretty excited about it.’’ While university officials evaluate the business relationship, casino officials see it one way.

  ‘‘Well, we don’t see it as a negative,’’ said Cheryl Good, Riverside’s marketing director.