Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) successfully was passed into legislation in Iowa in May 2019, as major operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings were quick to enter the new market. With DFS sites now up and running in the Hawkeye State, the competition has brought lucrative promotions and a wealth of action across the state.
Today at IABetting.com, we take a look at the Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa scene, giving you a comprehensive view of the market today.
Prior to the launch of legal sports betting in August 2019, Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa was the only show in town when it came to sports gambling. Even since IA sportsbooks have begun to pop up in person and online in Iowa, Daily Fantasy Sports has remained popular.
Let’s take a closer look at the best DFS sites in Iowa today.
Around since 2009, DraftKings has been one of the leading DFS platforms across the country with contests in a variety of sports leagues like the NBA, NHL, NBA, UFC, MLB, and more. Customers can participate in both daily and weekly games, drafting their lineups from the DraftKings desktop site and intuitive mobile app. Known for their user-friendly layout and best-in-class options, new customers at DraftKings can take advantage of their lucrative welcome offer.
Right there with DraftKings for more than 15 years, FanDuel has been a leader in the DFS space across the country and was one of the first operators available in Iowa. Like its counterpart, FanDuel offers daily and weekly contests, with multiple styles including 50/50, head-to-head, large tournaments, and more. FanDuel is home to competitive prize pools and an unparalleled customer experience, with stats and analytics to help their players make decisions.
Initially a season-long fantasy website back in the early 2000s, Yahoo DFS ventured into the DFS space shortly after FanDuel and DraftKings and has quickly become a major player. Offering an easy-to-use user interface, Yahoo DFS partnered up with sports betting giant BetMGM to provide integrated odds into their app. Like their competition, new users are eligible for bonus bets with their initial deposit.
StatHero is one of the newest players to the Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa scene, offering survivor pools, head-to-head, and pick-em competitions where players face each other, instead of the larger pool. With more formats than your average DFS site, StatHero is a great DFS in Iowa product. New customers are eligible for a 100% deposit match on their first deposit.
If you are looking to go off the beaten path for your Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa experience, OwnersBox is another great option. Offering a unique style contest called Superflex Salary Cap, Ownersbox is a niche DFS site that is just now starting to gain traction. In order to attract new customers, they offer one of the best welcome promotions in the DFS in Iowa space today, matching 100% of players’ initial deposits all the way up to $500.
Yes, DFS is completely legal in Iowa, as defined and regulated in Senate File 617 which passed in May 2019. After years and back and forth from lawmakers, the bill was officially signed into law, along with sports betting, on May 13, 2019, by Governor Kim Reynolds.
The comprehensive legislation, for the first time in the state’s history, allowed for legal DFS in Iowa, bringing DFS contests to the states later that year. In order to operate legally in Iowa, operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel had to obtain licenses from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC).
From the start, the IRGC was tasked with not just approving licenses to DFS and sports betting operators but also providing regulation and oversight of the new industry to ensure they fell within the law. After a summer of 2019 hashing out the details, the first DFS sites in Iowa, FanDuel and DraftKings, came to market launching their services across the Hawkeye state.
The regulatory framework says that participants in DFS contests must be 21 years of age or older and that operators must promote responsible gambling habits via deposit limits, self-exclusion lists, and more. More than three years after its launch, the DFS industry in Iowa continues to thrive today, with 17 online sportsbooks and four Daily Fantasy Sports companies operating in Iowa today.
With two primary operators of Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa, DraftKings and FanDuel, you have a couple of different ways to get in on the action. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how you can get started with Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa today.
Despite Daily Fantasy Sports legislation in Iowa not passing until May 2019, the history of DFS in IA isn’t straightforward. Let’s take a closer look at the history of DFS legislation in Iowa and how we got to where we are today.
Whether you make the decision to go with FanDuel or DraftKings, there is no shortage of DFS contests and league types you can participate in. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of DFS leagues to bet on in Iowa.
Having played Daily Fantasy Sports for years, there are a few expert tips we want to pass on. Below are a few pieces of helpful advice for playing Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa
Yes, you can win real money with Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa, all thanks to Senate File 617 legislation passed by IA lawmakers in January 2019. With regulation and oversight provided by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), there is also no shortage of banking methods to withdraw the real funds from your account.
Yes, you have to declare your DFS winnings in Iowa, as they are considered taxable income by both the state and federal government. Primary operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel will send you a Form 1099-MISC if your winnings exceed a certain amount. Make sure you consult with an Iowa tax professional to understand your exact tax situation.
