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Iowa Sports Betting

In Iowa, there are currently more than a dozen sportsbook applications available. The vast majority of the state’s land-based casinos provide a sportsbook on-site. Iowa has offered mobile and brick-and-mortar casino betting services since the start of 2019.

Even before the Supreme Court determined in May 2018 that the federal prohibition on sports betting was unconstitutional, Iowa plotted a route toward legalized sports betting. Earlier that year, a congressman from Iowa introduced a sports betting measure similar to the one passed the following year. Even though it did not pass, the legislative foundation served as a platform on which legalization of Iowa online sports betting was built in 2019.

One of the most bizarre features of the legislation was the necessity for in-person registration, which was set to expire at the start of 2021. It used to be necessary for players to go in-person with proof of identification to a functioning casino to initiate accounts, but today players may do so from any location in the state’s borders.

It is no longer essential to go to a retail casino or sportsbook location in Iowa to register for an Iowa sportsbook mobile application. The amount of money wagered on sports in Iowa surged when the restriction was lifted.

Top Legal Iowa Sports Betting Sites & Apps

Iowa is home to 19 state-licensed casinos, all of which have now obtained licenses to provide sports betting. Eighteen of the 19 participants leaped at the chance to seek a career in online sports betting, completing the application procedure in record time.

DraftKings

DraftKings

4.8/5 Read Review

Get a $1,000 Deposit Bonus

DraftKings, the undisputed leader in daily fantasy sports, was the sixth online bookmaker to go live in Iowa, and the first to do so in the year 2020. DraftKings has also opened sportsbooks in its three retail partner sites in Iowa, the Wild Rose facilities in Clinton, Emmetsburg, and Jefferson, in addition to its online sportsbook. As of today, Iowa has joined states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana in becoming a DraftKings sportsbook territory. Iowa racing lovers will undoubtedly like the several NASCAR betting markets available at DraftKings, as well as the company’s decent deposit match offer for new clients.

bet365 Sportsbook

 

bet365

4.8/5 Read Review

Score a bonus with bet365 today!

bet365 is making a name for itself among the nation’s best brands with strong welcome bonuses, great live betting, 24/7 live chat customer support, and more. The sportsbook is available in the state of Iowa for bettors to score a great welcome bonus and get started betting right now.

FanDuel Sportsbook

 

FanDuel

4.9/5 Read Review

Bet $5, get $150 if your bet WINS

 

Following the launch of online betting on August 29, 2019, FanDuel soon built retail sportsbooks at both Diamond Jo facilities in the state. More than a year later, the firm released its online/mobile betting option, boosting the total number of states having a digital FanDuel sportsbook to eight from the previous seven states. Iowa betting fans should be sure to take advantage of FanDuel’s promos after creating their online sportsbook account. These promotions sometimes feature a risk-free wager after making your initial payment.

BetMGM

BetMGM

4.9/5 Read Review

$1,500 First Bet Offer

Iowa has become the eighth state in which BetMGM allows legal online sports wagering, after Nevada and New Jersey. The BetMGM app is connected with MGM’s loyalty program, and consumers may use their points to claim prizes at MGM casinos around the US and Canada. Furthermore, BetMGM provides sports betting enthusiasts with an industry-leading selection of sports to wager on, including lesser-known sports such as cricket, rugby, and even the Canadian Football League. According to a news release, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt remarked, “I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new year than by launching BetMGM in Iowa, a state well known for its passionate sports fans.”

BetRivers

BetRivers

4.7/5 Read Review

2nd Chance Bets ($100-$500)

BetRivers is owned and run by Rush Street Interactive and is now available in several additional states, including Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado and New York. BetRivers has formed a partnership with Wild Rose Casino to do business in Iowa and to provide online betting services in the state. Because the Wild Rose Casino has already collaborated with DraftKings, the BetRivers agreement is limited to the internet only. 

BetRivers provides one of the most generous welcome packages in the industry, consisting of a deposit match up to $250 with a 1x rollover requirement on all winnings. BetRivers also has one of the most enticing customer loyalty programs available in the US. In addition, the iRush Rewards program provides points for every wager you make. These points may be redeemed for extra cash, odds enhancements, wheel spins, and other prizes. The iRush rewards program is organized into ten tiers, with the higher you climb the ladder, the more amazing rewards and winnings you get.

Caesars

Caesars

4.8/5 Read Review

$1,000 First Bet on Caesars

On the first day of sports betting in Iowa, industry veteran Caesars went live and began taking online bets on August 15, 2019, according to the company. Due to its partnership with six brick-and-mortar casinos in Iowa, Caesars Sportsbook is considered to be the most well-connected online bookmaker in the state. In addition to the Isle Bettendorf, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Lakeside, and Prairie Meadows Racetrack casinos, as well as both Harrah’s facilities in Council Bluffs, prospective bettors may set up their online account in person at any of the Isle casinos. 

Thousands of Iowa sports bettors have signed up with Caesars, depositing money into their accounts, placing online sports wagers, and setting new sports betting records, propelling Caesars to the top of the state’s gambling revenue rankings. Prairie Meadows casino has been the busiest sportsbook in the state for many months, which is likely because it is linked to Prairie Meadows Racetrack, which is the only horse racing facility in the state.

Online Sports Betting sites coming soon to Iowa

Daily Racing Form (DRF), an Iowa-based online sportsbook, has been launched by Affinity Interactive. DRF Bets is the brand that powers it. As part of its expansion plans in new markets, the data and editorial coverage brand that focuses mainly on North American horseracing has launched its online sportsbook. This is part of the company’s strategy to keep up with growing demand in the US sport wagering market. Affinity Interactive owns DRF Bets and DRF Bets. It also runs regional casinos in Nevada and Missouri with an estimated one million customers.

How we pick the best sports betting sites in Iowa

The sportsbook you choose to wager on must be suited to your needs, as every sportsbook is somewhat unique in what it offers. The best thing to do is to look and consider several major sportsbooks and try them out, make a list of pros and cons and decide on the best one for yourself. There are several aspects to consider in a sportsbook when deciding on the best one for your needs.

  • The user interface
  • Quality of odds
  • Quality of lines
  • Customer service
  • The mobile-betting experience
  • Betting options
  • Ease-of-use for new bettors

How to start betting in Iowa

It may be complex for some users to get started with online sports betting in Iowa due to the complexity of the procedure. Before, you needed to register in person. All of that changed at the beginning of 2021. Players can now register and place bets from anywhere in the state, regardless of their location. Download an app or go to a sportsbook website to place your bets. 

Visit the website of any of the permitted sportsbooks in Iowa, and you will be sent to the appropriate page, where you may download the app for your iPhone or Android smartphone. Some Iowa sportsbooks are only accessible via a mobile browser, as well. Create an account with the sportsbook. It should come as no surprise that you must have an account to place bets on any online sportsbook. 

Personal information, including name, address, phone number and the last four digits of a Social Security number, will be requested, and you will be required to verify. Deposit into your account. To place a wager, you will need money, which may be obtained by putting funds into your account using one of the several ways permitted by the state of Iowa. Iowa sportsbooks have a variety of banking methods. There are a variety of options for deposits and withdrawals at Iowa online sportsbooks, including the following:

When you click on the “deposit” button at any online sportsbook, you’ll be presented with several different alternatives to choose from. The withdrawal procedures are often the same as the deposit methods.

Benefits of betting online in Iowa

Several benefits come from betting online on sports in Iowa. These advantages are why sports fans find it enticing to wager on sports in the state.

  • Variety of betting options
  • Live Betting options are available
  • The convenience of betting from anywhere
  • High-quality lines
  • High-quality odds
  • Various betting markets

Most popular sports to bet on in Iowa

As in the rest of the US, football is by far the most popular sport in the state. Basketball follows behind with enormous support, with the NBA being a large attraction of the sports betting audience. The audience of soccer and hockey fans has grown considerably over the last few years, with popularity soaring for MLS and NHL, but the market share of these two leagues is still small compared to the big dogs. Iowa Sports teams to bet on

NCAA in Iowa

Because college football is the most popular sport in Iowa, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission made it a priority to have sports betting available before the start of the 2019 college football season. Because the state lacks significant professional sports teams, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones are the most popular attractions in the area.

NFL in Iowa

Football, in general, is quite popular in Iowa, with people’s favorite teams often varying based on where they reside in the state. Historically, the Minnesota Vikings have been the most popular NFL franchise in the state, particularly among people who live in the state’s northern regions. The Kansas City Chiefs, who were the Super Bowl champions in 2020, are quickly gaining ground on the Vikings. This is particularly true among those living closer to the Missouri border.

Baseball in Iowa

If you ask Ray Kinsella, he’ll tell you that baseball has a unique place in Iowa, which is home to the Field of Dreams filming location. Iowans’ favorite baseball teams have a similar sense of belonging to their state. A large majority of Iowans root for the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs, with the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals attracting their fair share of supporters as well.

NBA in Iowa

One of the four main professional sports leagues used to have a team in Iowa, and it was the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Waterloo Hawks were a professional basketball team that competed in the National Basketball Association for one season in 1949-50. Most Iowans subsequently became Chicago Bulls supporters as a result of Michael Jordan’s influence.

NHL in Iowa

Iowa may not seem to be a great location for ice hockey, but the NHL has increased in popularity in recent years. The Minnesota Wild relocated their minor league franchise, the Iowa Wild, to Des Moines in 2013 to strengthen their ties with the city and the state. Many Iowans continue to root for the Chicago Blackhawks, who have won three Stanley Cups in as many seasons since 2010.

Other Sporting Events in Iowa to bet on

While the major US leagues and tournaments are by far the major attractions for sports bettors in Iowa, there are also some relatively minor tournaments and sporting events that are appreciated by sports bettors in the state. Horse racing is relatively popular in the state, as most of it’s offered by many legal sportsbooks in the state. Additionally, greyhound racing is another relatively-popular alternative to horse racing that is appreciated by sports bettors in Iowa. Lastly, betting on competitions such as darts is also available at the major sportsbooks such as DraftKings and Caesars, as well as fantasy sports.

Iowa Sports Betting Mistakes to Avoid in Iowa

There are several mistakes that new sports bettors usually end up making. Therefore, every new bettor must take some precautions to safeguard their hard-earned money.

  • Always make sure that you understand the terms and conditions
  • Double-check the value of the wager
  • Maintain solid bankroll management
  • Maintain structure and solid discipline
  • Integrate statistics from trusted and verified sources when making wagering decisions

Iowa Sports betting site promotions

There are a variety of enticing promotions and bonuses offered to sports bettors in Iowa. New users often receive the best offers, but regular sportsbook bettors have access to regular promotions, as well.

  • Second chance bets: For a second chance bet,  you receive your first bet as bet credits if it loses up to a certain maximum. This can also be called a No Sweat First Bet, First Bet Offer, and more.
  • Deposit bonus: Make a deposit and you will get the cash that you may use to place bets in any manner you want. The play-through requirement for any deposit match is usually 30 times the initial deposit amount.
  • No-Deposit Bonus: Sign up and you’ll get a modest amount of free money to use to place bets.
  • Increased Odds: Increased chances on wagers of winning a game or having a good performance by a player.

Iowa Sports Betting Law

The only legal conditions are that you are above the age of 21, that you are inside state borders, and that you are not on a self-exclusion list. It is not necessary to be a permanent resident of Iowa to participate. Bets may only be placed on sporting events; they cannot be placed on other events such as elections or the Academy Awards. There can be no wagers on esports. Individuals who are professionally active in sports leagues (officials, coaches, and so on) are not permitted to wager on their sports. 

Prop bets on in-state college teams are not permitted during the game. In addition, there are unlawful offshore websites that provide sports betting in the state of Iowa. They cannot be relied upon to pay out prizes since they are not regulated by the state, and they have been known to flee with people’s money where there is no official control. On May 13, 2019, after many weeks of consideration, Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa sports betting legislation into law. 

Senate Finance Committee Chair Bobby Kaufmann and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Roby Smith were the driving forces behind SF 617, which was subjected to a total of 16 hearings in both houses before passing with bipartisan support. The legislation offers a lot of provisions about how sports gambling is to be conducted.

  • 6.75% tax rate on earnings, with a licensing fee of $45,000
  • Each license allows for the operation of up to two distinct sportsbook applications
  • Until January 1, 2021, you had to register for mobile applications in person
  • Prop bets involving in-state college teams are not permitted by the operators
  • The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is in charge of oversight
  • The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission moved rapidly to establish emergency regulations to license and enable sportsbook operators to begin offering sports betting in Iowa before the start of the college football and NFL seas

Yes. As of 2019, sports betting is legal in Iowa, both online and retail.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is in charge of regulating and overseeing all gambling and betting sectors in Iowa.

You can wager wherever you want, as long as you are within the state’s borders.

Yes. The vast majority of sportsbooks operating in Iowa offer mobile betting platforms.

You have to be of the legal age of 21 and must have a valid account at any of the legal sportsbooks licensed to offer their services in Iowa.

Written and updated by

Top Sportsbooks

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DraftKings

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bet365

Score a bonus with bet365 today!

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FanDuel

Bet $5, get $150 if your bet WINS

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