The PointsBet platform arrived in the United States by entering the New Jersey market in January 2019. After obtaining a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), the bookmaker first accepted wagers in Iowa in August of the same year.
However, in August 2023, sports merchandising giant Fanatics bought out PointsBet’s U.S. operations and is in the process of converting the existing platform to the Fanatics branding. Fanatics has now taken over, so PointsBet has closed in Iowa.
PointsBet Sportsbook frequently updated its bonus offerings for players in Iowa and around the U.S. Here were some of the other top Iowa sports betting promotions on the platform.
Registering on PointsBet in Iowa would allow you to snag the generous welcome bonus promo. Here’s how you could register and get started with the bookie.
PointsBet had 13 available sports on its IA sportsbook platform. You also were able to find multiple leagues under each of those sports umbrellas. Here were some of the most popular options.
What was PointsBetting?
PointsBet first began offering its sportsbook platform in Australia in 2015. The idea behind the sportsbook was to introduce the concept of “PointsBetting,” which multiplies the winnings on a player’s original stake for each degree of difference from a given line.
For example, say PointsBet set a line of 42 for a game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. You placed a $10 bet on the over, and Chicago won 31-28. The point total of 59 minus the original line of 42 results in a multiplier of 17x your original stake for a $170 win. Just be careful, as losing bets also carry that same multiplier, so you could also see a 17x loss in the scenario above if you took the under.
The PointsBet mobile app in Iowa
PointsBet had a singular mobile app, so bettors in Iowa didn’t need to download a unique app each time they traveled and wanted to play out of state. While the Iowa sports betting app did also include the casino side of PointsBet’s operations, online casino gambling was still prohibited under Iowa law, so this section of the app was inaccessible.
The PointsBet app held a 4.8/5 rating in the iOS App Store and a 4.1/5 rating in the Google Play Store. Both of these scores were quite impressive given the high emotion factor of sports betting and the potential for negatively skewed rankings, and it held one of the higher rankings among Iowa bookies.
With a default dark mode display, the sleek design was one of the best on the scene. Navigation between menus and markets was a breeze, and you could easily access the promotions to take advantage of the frequent and bountiful bonuses.
How to download the PointsBet app on iOS
Downloading the PointsBet app on your iOS device only required a steady internet connection and was free to install. This was how you can download it.
After the app was downloaded, you could create your PointsBet account, make a deposit, place your first wager, and claim the welcome bonus.
How to download the PointsBet app on Android
The download process for the PointsBet app on Android devices was very similar to the iOS steps. Here’s what you needed to do to complete the installation.
Once you downloaded the app, you could log in with your existing PointsBet account credentials or sign up for a new account if you haven’t already done so.
PointsBet Sportsbook in Iowa deposit & withdrawal methods
PointsBet’s list of deposit and withdrawal methods in Iowa was in the middle of the pack for IA sportsbooks, and you should have been able to find an easy and convenient option. Here’s the full list of what you were able to use.
PointsBet Sportsbook retail location in Iowa
PointsBet Sportsbook had an in-person betting location at the Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington. The casino cage was open daily from 7AM to 2AM, and self-service kiosks are constantly available. You also found a full service bar with multiple TVs if you wanted to watch your bet play out in person.
Is PointsBet Sportsbook legal in Iowa?
No, betting on sports at PointsBet Sportsbook is not legal in Iowa. The company obtained a sports gambling operator’s license from the IRGC and launched its Iowa sports betting operations in August 2019. However, they closed operations in 2024.
Fanatics took over PointsBet’s U.S. operations, which includes ownership of the license.
Our expert opinion on PointsBet Iowa
In our expert opinion, PointsBet Iowa was one of the most unique and fun ways to make your wagers. The concept of PointsBetting was an excellent way to multiply your winnings, promotions were frequent and generous, and the mobile app was one of the top options in the state.
You were encouraged to take advantage of the “Parlay Power Hour,” available from 5-6PM Central time every day. To participate, you placed any parlay of at least two legs and a stake of at least $20. If your parlay hit, you were awarded a $25 bonus bet in addition to your winning payout.
There wasn’t much to nitpick on the negative side, but there were a couple of areas where PointsBet could have improved. Expanding the payment methods list to include more options like Venmo, Google Pay, and Apple Pay would have made funding your account more convenient. Additionally, unless you were getting your cash in person, you might have noticed payout times could take a bit longer than other Iowa operators.