Online and retail sports betting has been available in Iowa since 2019 and its popularity continues to rise. We provide you with reviews of betting sites, the most recent promotional offers, and the latest news on Iowa online sports betting.
With so many options available, finding the best betting site can be a daunting task. To assist both newcomers and seasoned gamblers, we've sifted through the multitude to bring you the cream of the crop. Here are the best Iowa sports betting sites that stand out in terms of reliability, user experience, and odds.
bet365 Iowa, a leading global online betting platform, officially launched its operations in the state on June 5, 2023. This expansion into Iowa was facilitated through a strategic partnership with Casino Queen Marquette.
Recognized for its vast array of sports betting options, bet365 offers both seasoned and novice bettors a comprehensive betting experience.
Caesars Entertainment is one of the most well-known and highly respected gaming companies in the United States. They entered the online sports gaming space when they acquired William Hill in April 2021 for $3.7 billion, and they are a major presence on the Iowa sports betting scene.
Caesars owns and operates a number of casinos in Iowa, so they did not have to locate a separate in-state partner. They operate Iowa retail sportsbooks at their Isle Casinos in Bettendorf and Waterloo, Harrah’s in Council Bluffs, and the Horseshoe Casino, which is also located in Council Bluffs.
DraftKings is unquestionably one of Iowa's top two sports betting sites measured by revenue generation. Simply put, they do everything right, from their bonus structures to their competitive odds to the customer service they provide.
They are partnered with Wild Rose Casinos, and in addition to the online sports betting platform, there are physical sportsbooks at Wild Rose properties in Jefferson, Clinton, and Emmetsburg.
Not surprisingly, the other most widely used betting site in Iowa is FanDuel. Both of these industry leaders had a foothold among American sports fans via their daily fantasy sports platforms. As a result, they were poised for expansion when the federal prohibition on sports betting was lifted in 2019.
FanDuel’s casino partner is Diamond Jo, and their properties are owned by Boyd Gaming. There is a retail sportsbook at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, and another outlet at the Diamond Jo Worth location that is technically in Northwood.
MGM Resorts International is a name that reverberates loudly throughout the gaming industry in the United States, and they actually have a global reach. BetMGM is the company’s online sports betting product, and it launched in Iowa on January 4, 2021.
This operator sits firmly in the second tier of the sports betting giants in the United States behind FanDuel and DraftKings. They offer a strong welcome bonus, a solid online platform, and a well-developed mobile app.
Betfred rounds out our list of the preferred betting sites in Iowa. This company was founded in England in 1967, and its first venture into the American sports betting world was in Iowa. They opened up a retail sportsbook at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in January 2020.
This is a state-of-the-art facility with self-service betting kiosks that are open around the clock, and there are ample betting windows as well. In September 2020, they rolled out their online sports betting platform in Iowa, so they have all available bases covered.
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Iowa. On May 13, 2019, Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa Senate Bill 617 to legalize sports betting in the state. Adults that are 21 years of age and older can now place bets on college and pro sporting events in person or through mobile applications.
Now that in-person registration since January 2021 is no longer required, you can easily register a betting account online in Iowa using your smartphone or computer. These are the steps that you need to take:
In the heartland of America, Iowa's passion for sports is undeniable. As sports betting gained legality in the Hawkeye State, residents have eagerly embraced the chance to place wagers on their favorite events. Let's delve into the most popular sports to bet on in Iowa.
Most betting sites in Iowa have some kind of bonus or promo that is awarded to new players when they sign up. These bonuses come in many different forms and it's important that you understand the difference between them.
These are the most common Iowa sportsbook promos offered to new sign-ups:
There are no professional sports teams in Iowa, but there are two major Division I college programs in the state.
The Iowa Hawkeyes compete in the Big Ten Conference, and their football team has enjoyed a lot of success over the years. They have 11 Big Ten titles to their credit, and they won the National Championship in 1958.
Iowa State is the other major player on the college sports scene in the state, and they do battle in the rough-and-tumble Big 12 Conference. They are not among the elite programs, but they are always competitive, and Jack Trice Stadium in Ames is electric on football Saturdays.
Though they do not have an NFL team of their own, there are plenty of NFL fans in Iowa and a significant percentage of them root for the Vikings. Minnesota is just north of Iowa, so people in that part of the state gravitate toward Viking fandom.
The other NFL team that is most popular in Iowa is the Green Bay Packers, and why not? Wisconsin is a neighboring state as well, and the Packers are one of the most successful franchises in American sports.
Some betting sites try to attract players from Iowa without having a proper license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. These are what we call offshore sports betting sites, and these are the reasons why you should avoid them:
When compared to officially licensed betting operators in Iowa, offshore sports betting sites frequently have inferior digital security. Even worse, these corporations have no real obligation to keep your information secure. Offshore betting sites are renowned for selling customer information to third-party organizations.
Since offshore betting sites do not operate under US laws, your funds may not be secure. These companies are under constant threat of government action, meaning that they could go bankrupt and in the worst case disappear with its customers funds.
There is little you can do if you have been a victim of an offshore sports betting site. These operators are often based in tax havens like Malta and Curacao, which means that you are not protected by any state or federal US laws that can protect you from wrongdoings.
Iowa was the 11th state in the union to legalize sports betting, so they had some pre-existing models to learn from when they were establishing their regulations. As a result, they do not deviate very much from the standard that exists in other states.
First, you have to be at least 21 years of age to wager on sporting events in Iowa. Secondly, there is the matter of the registration process. Initially, Iowans were required to go to a brick-and-mortar sportsbook to register their accounts.
Even though online sports betting was available, you were not allowed to register online. As you might imagine, this cut into the revenue that the state was receiving from sports betting. On January 1, 2021, this provision in the law expired, and sports betting sites were given the green light to accept online registrations.
As we have stated, you can bet on college and pro sports, but you cannot bet on high school, amateur, or youth sports. For example, you cannot bet on the Little League World Series. Though you can wager on Iowa college teams, you cannot bet on individual player propositions involving Iowa collegiate players.
The revenue that has been generated by Iowa sports betting is now considerable after a slow start.
As you can see from the chart below, the total handle took a quantum leap in 2021, reaching over $2 billion per year. This is largely due to the elimination of the in-person registration requirement.
| Year | Total Handle | Revenue | State Tax Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $212,389,254 | $19,280,285 | $1,301,418 |
| 2020 | $575,239,746 | $41,629,263 | $2,806,655 |
| 2021 | $2,041,311,743 | $113,884,644 | $8,767,942 |
| 2022 | $2,348,065,963.33 | $165,551,990.32 | $10,760,879.37 |
Traditionally, all forms of gambling were prohibited in Iowa because of an 1857 constitutional amendment, but the relevant provision was repealed in 1972. Since then, gambling in the state has been possible, and these are the key events that apply to sports betting.
21 is the legal age to bet on sports in Iowa. When you create an account at a sports betting site, they will ask for your date of birth. You might also be asked to prove your age by sending a copy of your passport or driver's license.
All winnings that derive from sports betting are taxed, even if the winner is not an Iowa resident. You are responsible of reporting your gambling winnings yourself on form IA 1040.
Yes, betting on college sports is fully legal in Iowa. However, the state does not allow prop bets on individual college athletes.
Yes, wagering money on Daily Fantasy Sports was legalized at the same time as sports betting in Iowa. The main DFS sites in the state are DraftKings and FanDuel.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) is in charge of overseeing sports betting in Iowa. The IRGC also oversees pari-mutuel horse wagering and all land-based casinos in the state.
There are currently 14 Iowa sports betting apps available.
No, you don’t have to live in Iowa to bet on sports online. However, you do have to be located in Iowa at the time of betting to use their wagering sites legally.
Yes, horse wagering is legal in Iowa. You can bet on horses both at physical casinos and at the online racebook TVG.
