The Daily Racing Form (DRF) has been a hallmark of horse racing in the United States since the late 19th century, moving from a strictly paper publication into a vibrant online community of horse racing enthusiasts.
Originally founded in 1894 in Chicago, IL by Frank Brunell, DRF was sold in 2007 to Arlington Capital Partners for just under $200 million.
Then, in January 2022, DRF Sportsbook was launched, venturing into the sports betting industry with Iowa being their first and only state where they are taking action. However, they closed in January 2025.
In addition to an online sportsbook and app, DRF Sportsbook also had a retail location at Lakeside Hotel and Casino in Osceola, IA.
Is it possible to join DRF Sportsbook Iowa and start betting?
Unfortunately, as DRF exited the Iowa online sports betting market in January 2025, it is not possible to place a bet at DRF Sportsbook.
Notable features of DRF Sportsbook Iowa
Despite being one of the lesser-known, smaller players in the Iowa sportsbook market, DRF Sportsbook Iowa had plenty of notable features. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
DRF’s betting app in Iowa
Available for both Android and iOS devices, the DRF Sportsbook app was one of the best features of the sports betting site. From its easy-to-use design to its lightning-fast load times, the DRF betting app in IA was a game-changer for the sportsbook. Let’s dive into the few simple steps that were required to get it for both iOS and Android devices.
How you downloaded the DRF app on iOS
Downloading the DRF app in Iowa on iOS was just a few short steps away. Let’s take a closer look at how you got the sports betting app onto your iPhone.
How you downloaded the DRF app on Android
If you are one of the thousands of Android users in the Hawkeye State, downloading the DRF app was just as easy. Here are the steps that were involved.
Popular sports leagues you could bet on using DRF IA
Iowa residents love their sports betting, and all of the popular sports leagues across the country (and the world) were available for action. Let’s take a few of the most popular leagues you could bet on using DRF IA.
Given its relative scale compared to other sportsbook operators in Iowa, DRF had relatively limited deposit and withdrawal methods. Even still, there was something for everyone, and sports bettors shouldn't have had any issues transacting on the site. Let’s look at three of the most popular methods they offered.
Customer support at DRF Sportsbook Iowa
For those who might have had inquiries when using DRF Sportsbook Iowa, there were a handful of ways to get in touch with customer service. Starting by heading to the bottom of the main page under “Customer Support,” here are the menu items that were available.
DRF Sportsbook’s legal status in Iowa
DRF Sportsbook was fully regulated and licensed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, and unlike the other Iowa sportsbooks, was exclusive to the state of Iowa. However, it left the market in January 2025 and is no longer accepting new bets or signups.
In terms of safety, DRF Sportsbook used an encryption technology called SSL which interfaced with its back-end to protect itself (and your funds) from hackers. DRF Sportsbook did not report any incidents when it comes to their security.
Our expert opinion on DRF Iowa
DRF Iowa leaned on more than 100 years in the gambling industry to date, starting with The Daily Racing Form in 1984, to launch a terrific product in DRF Sportsbook in 2022. With the reputable image from their ventures in horse racing in tow, DRF Sportsbook came out of the gates as one of the best sportsbooks in Iowa and only got better with time.
The online sportsbook also benefited from its brick-and-mortar location at Lakeside Hotel and Casino and offered bettors the same competitive lines both online and in their retail shop.
Finally, unlike its offshore competitors, DRF Iowa was fully backed by the safety and security of Iowa state regulations. It could be totally trusted in terms of keeping your funds safe and acting in a generally forthright manner.
However, as it closed in January 2025, it is unfortunately not a viable option anymore for Iowa bettors looking to wager on sports.