Iowa Sports Betting Betting Info And The Best IA Sportsbooks
Sports betting was legalized in Iowa in May 2019, with the first sportsbook apps that went live in August of that year. Despite there aren’t pro teams in Iowa, the state has several online sportsbooks active. As a result, bettors in Iowa can choose from more than a dozen legal online sportsbooks that give various bonuses to new customers. On this page, you will find a complete analysis of the current Iowa online sports betting market and review the available legal sportsbook apps.
Iowa Sportsbooks
| SPORTSBOOK | BONUS & FEATURES | OUR SCORE | PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|
Top pick  |
$1,500
Bonus Bet
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, Nevada, New York or Ontario. |
||
 |
Up To $1,000
On Caesars
New User Bonus. 21+; Valid Only NJ, CO, NY & IA) T&Cs Apply. |
||
 |
$500Â FREE BET
2nd Chance Bet
New User Bonus. 21+; Valid Only IA, CO & NY) T&Cs Apply. |
||
 |
$500Â FREE
In 2nd Chance Bet
New User Bonus. 21+; Valid Only In Selected States; T&Cs Apply. |
Comparing the best Iowa sports betting apps
Bettors in Iowa have many sports betting options to choose from in the state. In addition to sign up offers, books also provide regular promotions for existing customers and innovative features. Below is a list of the best sports betting sites in Iowa and a comparison of their qualities: Betting on major games and events: BetMGM. This top US operator is the go-to sports betting apps for lots of bettors in Iowa, thanks to their impressive coverage of games and events. Largest selection of sports: BetMGM, BetRivers. All the legal sports betting apps in Iowa have lots of options, but BetMGM and BetRivers tend to have the largest overall sections. Competitive odds: Caesars, PointsBet. Caesars and PointsBet seem to have the most competitive odds across the markets from our analysis. Sportsbooks with rewards programs: Caesars, BetRivers. With this imponent competition in Iowa, it is not surprising that most sports betting apps offer generous promotions. Caesars and BetRivers, however, are going the extra mile by offering rewards programs that allow bettors to collect points based on their play activity. Best sportsbooks for promos: BetMGM, Caesars. BetMGM and Caesars are very generous with regular promotions for loyal customers.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook has a smooth app with lots of exciting features. The most popular are the Flash Bet option for live betting and betting pools, where you can compete against other bettors to win prizes. In addition, DraftKings has a top sign up bonus, yet they could be offering more regular promos.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM has a great depth of markets, and here you will find sports that you won’t find in many other books, like snooker, for instance. The website layout could be improved, but the app experience is generally excellent.
 |
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER |
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars are known for offering generous promotions to existing players, with usually very competitive odds. The app speed can be improved, and the same can be said for customer service wait times.
 |
Click On The Button Related To Your State To Claim Offer New User Bonus. 21+; Valid Only in Selected States) T&Cs Apply. |
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers has been able to acquire a solid position in Iowa. Although their online sportsbook could be organized better, they offer a wide range of features and sports. BetRivers also offers a wide range of props and alternative lines and has one of the top industry rewards programs.
Betway Sportsbook
Betway has operated in gambling since 2006 and has competitive odds and many sports to choose from. However, they can improve by offering more regular promotions.
Unibet Sportsbook
Unibet is a giant operator overseas, and it is also expanding fast in the US. The app looks bare-bones but has all the functionalities needed and works well. Live betting and streaming are solid with this operator.
 |
Click On The Button Related To Your State To Claim Offer New User Bonus. 21+; Valid Selected States Only T&Cs Apply. |
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel does offer one of the best web and mobile experiences. Their sportsbook has now more prop bets offering and is user-friendly and intuitive. You will find plenty of features, yet they could improve by providing more regular promotions to existing customers.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet does reward well the customers that are active on their platform. The PointsBet app has competitive odds and, overall, is very solid, even if the navigation could be improved slightly.
New Iowa sports betting apps
DRF Sports is the 18th sports betting app to launch in Iowa in January 2022. In the second part of 2021 we have seen Betway, Barstool and Circa launching their operations in the Hawkeye State. With each of the 19 casinos in the state that can have up to three online partners, more operators are likely to appear in Iowa soon. However, all the industry’s biggest names have a presence here, but there is still space for smaller books that want to enter the market. Tipico Sportsbook is one of those that are expected to launch in Iowa in 2022. With such huge competition, plenty of betting offers are available for bettors in the state, so let’s take a look at the most popular ones: Deposit bonus: with this offer, the sportsbook will match your first deposit up to a specific limit. Before you can withdraw funds, you would typically have to meet a playthrough requirement. Risk-free bets: sign up, make your first deposit and place your first bet. If the bet loses, you will get a refund up to a certain amount as a free bets or site credit. Odds boosts: a book will take the initial line and increase the odds to make the potential return more interesting. Boosts can be in any market and are generally around the most important games. Registering for an online sportsbook in Iowa is a simple process. Once you have entered your details, the sportsbook will verify the information. If they have problems doing so, they will contact you, and you can provide additional documentation. If all goes smoothly, you could be up and running at a legal Iowa operator in minutes.
Key advantages of betting with a legal Iowa sports betting site
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is the body that manages sports betting in the state. They are in charge of issuing licensing and setting up regulations for sportsbooks, in addition to measures and restrictions to ensure safety for sports bettors in the state. Every app that has been authorized for play in Iowa has been thoroughly tested for security and fairness before being allowed to launch in Iowa. As a result, bettors across the state can now safely and legally wager at their pleasure. Initially, there was an in-person registration requirement in Iowa, but that was scrapped in 2021 as it was recognized the convenience of signing up online or via an app. This move has facilitated the growth of the market in the state.
Iowa sports betting law and key regulations
Iowa started to work to legalize sports betting already in 2018, but progress was made the following year, with Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed sports betting into law in May 2019. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has helped manage the situation and create a thriving online and retail market ready for the launch in August 2019. Originally, it was required to complete your registration in person before being allowed to wager online, but this rule was removed on January 1st, 2021. The law enables online sportsbooks to open for business as long as they partner with one of the state’s land-based casinos. The law has also set one of the lower tax rates and licensing fees in the US for betting, facilitating several operators’ entrance. The license fee in Iowa is $45,000, while the state taxes sports betting revenue at 6.75%. Each casino in the state is allowed to have three online skins up to a maximum of 57 sites.
Legal Iowa sports betting apps list
Since the market opened in 2019, the Iowa sports betting market has quickly grown and there are now 18 online sportsbooks available in the state: Bally Bet Sportsbook Barstool Sportsbook Betfred Sportsbook BetMGM Sportsbook BetRivers Sportsbook Betway Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook Circa Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook DRF Sportsbook Elite Sportsbook FanDuel Sportsbook Fubo Sportsbook Hard Rock Sportsbook PointsBet Sportsbook Q Sportsbook TheScore Sportsbook Unibet Sportsbook Popular sports to wager on in Iowa Even if no major pro sports teams are coming from Iowa, the state is close to Midwesterns teams. As a result, local fans have plenty of options in each of the major sports: NFL: Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings NBA: Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals NHL: Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues In addition to pro major sports, college football and basketball are also very popular, with Iowa and Iowa State having huge followings. It is allowed to wager on those local teams and other smaller schools in the state. Something to bear in mind is that Iowa doesn’t allow player prop bets on college athletes. Many Iowa bettors are also wagering on other sports like soccer, tennis and UFC. At legal Iowa sportsbooks, you will also find various international sports and the likes of darts and table tennis. Betting is restricted to sporting events, so it is not allowed to bet on the Oscars or the US election results.
Iowa sports betting history
Iowa has started the work to legalize sports betting in 2018, but the year ended without any significant progress. In 2019, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed off legal sports betting in May, hoping that sportsbooks could be live before the start of the NFL and college football seasons. Thanks to Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s work, the result was achieved, which expedited the process and allowed retail and online betting to launch in August. Below are some critical dates pre and post-legalization of sports betting in Iowa:
- 2018: After the US Supreme Court ruling in May 2018, Iowa was one of the states that were keen to legalize sports betting
- 2019: Iowa’s governor signs sports betting into law in May 2019. Since then, there has been a quick turnaround with retail and online betting launched in August, just before the start of the NFL, NBA and NHL seasons and the MLB postseason.
- 2021: The in-person registration requirement ended at the beginning of the year, allowing the sports betting market to increase significantly faster in Iowa.
Iowa sports betting FAQ
Is online sports betting legal in Iowa?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Iowa as it was legalized in 2019. Online and retail sports betting was then launched in August 2019 with Caesars Sportsbook, which became the first app to launch in the state.
Where can I wager on sports in IA?
Currently, 18 legal and regulated online sportsbooks are available to Iowa bettors. There are retail sportsbooks also located at most of state’s casinos like:
Ameristar Casino
Catfish Bend Casino
Diamond Jo Casino
Diamond Jo Worth
Grand Falls Casino
Hard Rock Sioux City
Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Horseshoe Casino
Isle Casino Bettendorf
Isle Casino Waterloo
Lakeside Casino
Prairie Meadows
Q Casino
Rhythm City Casino
Riverside Casino
Wild Rose Clinton
Wild Rose Emmetsburg
Wild Rose Jefferson
Is Bovada legal in Iowa?
No, Bovada is not legal in Iowa as they do not have a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Offshore sportsbooks that are not listed in the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission shouldn’t be used as they are not legally operating in the state. Always look for the IRGC stamp of approval, and if you can’t find it, it is not worth risking to wager there.
What is the legal sports betting age in IA?
The legal sports betting age in Iowa is 21, and you would have to verify your age as part of the registration process with a legal Iowa operator. They will typically do it automatically, but if they can’t do so for any reason, they will request you to provide supporting documents.
Can you wager on horse racing in Iowa?
Yes, horse racing is legal in Iowa, and there is live racing action at Prairie Meadows in Altoona on specific dates. At the venue, you will also find simulcasting. Online horse racing betting at sites like TVG is legal.
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in IA?
Iowa has legalized daily fantasy sports contests already in 2019, as part of the broader sports betting law. The likes of DraftKings and FanDuel are operating their DFS sites in Iowa, with residents that can sign up to play legally.
Can you bet on college sports in Iowa?
College and pro sports wagering is legal in Iowa, and it is also allowed to wager on in-state teams like Iowa and Iowa State. However, placing prop bets on individual college athletes is not legal.
