Iowa Sports Betting
Iowa sports betting is legal and live both online and in person. There are now 19 mobile apps in the state for bettors to choose from, and Iowans can register, deposit and bet online from anywhere within state lines.
Best Iowa sportsbooks 2023
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What’s happening in Iowa sports betting right now?
- June 5, 2023 — Bet365 launched in Iowa. The UK-based sportsbook became the 19th legal online sportsbook in Iowa and is now legal in five states including Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.
- June 2, 2023 — ClutchBet reached a deal with SimpleBet, which will provide micro-betting services to ClutchBet users in Iowa. SimpleBet’s technology allows ClutchBet customers to place micro bets on the NFL, NBA and MLB.
- May 19, 2023 — Meskawaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama, Iowa recently added IGT PlaySports technology to its sportsbook in an effort to enhance player experience.
- May 10, 2023 — Iowa sports betting handle dipped to $172.5 million in April, a 25.8% decrease month-over-month. Revenue for the month was $14.1 million.
- May 9, 2023 — 26 Iowa student athletes and approximately 15 Iowa State student athletes are being investigated as part of an Iowa sports betting investigation by state regulators.
- May 8, 2023 — The Iowa Gaming Commission is reportedly investigating the University of Iowa after the school withheld some student athletes from competition due to a “potential NCAA violation”.
- May 2, 2023 — The Iowa House passed a bill that will change how sports betting revenue is distributed in the state. All 99 counties in Iowa will now receive a portion of the the state’s gaming revenue.
Comparing top Iowa sports betting apps
Prospective players have plenty of sports betting options to choose from in Iowa. Beyond the signup offers, set your sights on the books that have the most features that you want. Here is our list of the best sports betting sites in Iowa in some key areas:
- Betting on major games and events: DraftKings, FanDuel. The industry giants are go-to sports betting apps for many bettors in Iowa, in part because of what they offer for the biggest games and tournaments.
- Largest selection of sports: BetMGM, BetRivers. Top sportsbooks have a lot of options, but BetMGM and BetRivers tend to have the largest overall selections.
- Competitive odds: Caesars and Betway. Caesars and Betway are regularly in line with or better than the market as a whole.
- Sportsbooks with rewards programs: Caesars, BetRivers. Rewards programs are standard in the world of casino gambling, but not as commonplace for sports betting. Caesars and BetRivers are two of the exceptions to that rule. The two have simple rewards programs that allow bettors to accrue points based on their play.
- Best sportsbooks for promos: BetMGM, Caesars. BetMGM and Caesars do a solid job on this front, with a regular array of promotions for existing players.
1. DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook offers a smooth app filled with features. Top highlights include the Flash Bet option for live wagers and betting pools where you can see how you stack up against other bettors for a chance to win prizes. While DraftKings has a solid signup bonus, it could improve with more regular promos.
- App rating: 4.9 (iOS), 4.8 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Great UX makes for a slick betting platform.
- Best feature: Betting pools
- Bonus offer: $1,000
2. BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM offers sports you likely won’t find at many other books, such as snooker. If you’re looking to bet on a sport that attracts a decent amount of interest, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here. The website layout could be more efficient, but the app experience is generally solid.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Bet on a wide range of sports.
- Best feature: Edit my bet
- Bonus offer: $1,000
3. BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers has snagged a decent amount of market share in Iowa. While its online sportsbook could be better and more efficiently organized, it still offers a variety of good features. BetRivers offers a large menu of sports, a good layout for props and alternate lines, and one of the industry’s best rewards programs.
- App rating: 3.5 (iOS), 2.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Features and sports that you won’t find elsewhere.
- Best feature: iRush Rewards
- Bonus offer: $100
4. Betfred Sports
BetFred Sports is a relatively-new sportsbook to the US, but it has decades of experience in Europe under its belt. It offers some of the most competitive odds that you’re likely to find, along with a sleek and aesthetically-pleasing display. The only ding on Betfred is its banking options, which are still a bit anemic compared to the options US bettors typically have elsewhere.
- App rating: 3.7 (Apple), 4.0 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Experienced European sportsbook has plenty to offer Iowa bettors.
- Best feature: Sleek presentation
- Bonus offer: $1,111
5. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel offers one of the better web and mobile experiences you’ll find for any sportsbook. It lays everything out in clear fashion, and the site makes improvements where necessary. For instance, it overhauled its prop bets to be more user-friendly and intuitive. There are lots of great features, but FanDuel could improve by adding more regular promos.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Simple to use with a number of great features.
- Best feature: Same game parlays
- Bonus offer: Get $150
6. Betway Sportsbook
Already a top sportsbook overseas, Betway is quickly gaining momentum in North America. The app is easy to use, offers competitive odds and great live-betting options. Betway also gives users a cash-out option on live events, and even allows live streaming of some games. Some users complain of low withdrawal limits and sessions that expire too quickly, making the user sign in repeatedly.
- App rating: 4.7 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Competitive odds.
- Best feature: Live betting and streaming options.
- Bonus offer: $250
7. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars regularly dishes out promos for existing players, while the odds are typically competitive up and down the menu. On the downside, the sportsbook app can lag at times, and some users have expressed frustration with customer service wait times.
- App rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Competitive odds from a trusted brand name.
- Best feature: Regular promos
- Bonus offer: $1,250
New Iowa sports betting apps
DRF Sports became the 18th sports betting app in Iowa upon its launch in January 2022. That came on the tail of a busy fourth quarter of 2021 that saw Betway, Barstool, and Circa make their official debuts in the Hawkeye State.
Following a couple sportsbooks exiting the state in theScore Bet and Unibet, Tipico Sportsbook, ClutchBet and bet365 joined the fold and brought the total number of Iowa sportsbooks back up to 19.
Each of the 19 casinos in the state can have up to three online partners. The industry’s biggest names all have a presence in the state, but some smaller books could fill the remaining slots.
How to get started with best Iowa sportsbook bonuses
Most Iowa sportsbooks provide competitive signup bonuses and online sports betting promotions. Before signing up, look for the incentives that are best for you. Here are the current top five welcome bonuses:
- DraftKings Promo Code: $50 bonus bet plus 20% up to $1,000 with your first deposit.
- BetMGM Bonus Code: Get up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets.
- BetRivers Bonus Code: Second chance bet of up to $100.
- Betfred Promo Code: Get up to $1,111 in Fred bets.
- FanDuel Promo Code: Bet $5 Get $150 in bonus bets.
Before claiming any bonuses, understand how they work and what you need to do. Here are some of the typical offers that you’ll come across:
- Deposit bonus: The sportsbook will match your first deposit up to a certain amount as a percentage of the total. You won’t be able to withdraw the matching funds until you meet a playthrough requirement.
- First bet offers: After you sign up to play and make your first deposit, the sportsbook may match your first bet. If the bet loses, you get a refund up to a certain amount of that bet in the form of site credits that you can use to place more bets.
- Odds boosts: An odds boost means that the book is taking the initial line and increasing the odds to make the potential return more appealing. Boosts may be available for game outcomes, parlays, or player props.
The registration process is simple, as you follow the prompts and enter the necessary information. The sportsbook will verify your details. If it has any trouble doing so, you’ll need to provide additional documentation. Barring that, you can be up and running at a legal Iowa sportsbook in minutes.
10 quick facts about Iowa sports betting
- Iowa legalized sports betting in 2019.
- The online and retail launch happened simultaneously in August 2019.
- Initially, there was an in-person registration requirement for online betting, but that expired at the start of 2021.
- Iowa recorded more than $2 billion in total bets in 2021.
- Iowa is one of the few legal sports betting states without a home pro sports team.
- Betting is legal on both pro and college sports.
- Iowa does not allow wagering on high school sports or entertainment-related events.
- To legally bet on sports in Iowa, you must be 21 or older.
- You don’t have to be a resident, but you will need to be within state lines when placing bets.
- It’s illegal for those with a close affiliation with leagues or teams to wager on their own sports.
What to expect at a legal Iowa sports betting site
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is the regulatory body for sports betting in the state, covering licensing and regulation for the sportsbooks while also aiming to ensure safety for sports bettors. This means every app authorized for play in Iowa undergoes testing and review for fairness and security before launching in the state.
Bettors across the state can now wager in a legal and safe fashion at their leisure. And, with the in-person registration requirement expired as of 2021, the convenience of signing up at one of the sites and placing a bet from anywhere within the state is a main reason the market continues to grow.
Iowa sports betting law and regulations
Efforts to legalize sports betting in Iowa began in earnest in 2018, but the year would come and go without resolution. That all changed quickly the following year, however, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing sports betting into law in May 2019.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission helped to push things through for a successful online and retail launch in August. You originally needed to complete your registration in person to wager online, but that rule expired on Jan. 1, 2021.
The law permitted online sportsbooks to open for business, provided that they partnered with one of the state’s land-based casinos. The law also set one of the lower tax rates and licensing fees for betting. Here are some of the other main points of Iowa sports betting law:
- The license fee is $45,000.
- The state taxes sports betting revenue at a rate of 6.75%.
- You can now register at an Iowa sportsbook entirely online.
- Each casino is allowed three online skins for a max total of 57 sites.
Full list of Iowa sports betting apps
Since opening in 2019, the Iowa sports betting market has quickly become crowded. Here are the 19 online sportsbooks available in the state as of 2023:
- Bally Bet Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Bet365
- Betfred Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Betway Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Circa Sportsbook
- ClutchBet Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- DRF Sportsbook
- Elite Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Hard Rock Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- Q Sportsbook
- SuperBook Sportsbook
- Tipico Sportsbook
Popular sports to bet on in Iowa
While no major pro sports teams make their home in Iowa, the state is surrounded by nearby Midwestern teams. Loyalties are pretty scattered as a result, but the good news is there are plenty of options for rooting interest in each of the major sports:
- NFL: Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
- NBA: Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves
- MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals
- NHL: Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues
College football and basketball are also very popular, with Iowa and Iowa State having the biggest followings. You can bet on those programs and potentially a couple of other smaller schools in the state without issue. Iowa doesn’t allow player prop bets on college athletes, however.
Other top attractions at legal sportsbooks include soccer, tennis and UFC. There are also markets for various international sports, as well as those with a niche following such as darts and table tennis.
When it’s time for the Super Bowl, you’ll find props on a few ancillary events like the coin toss, but sports betting is technically restricted to actual sporting events. As such, you won’t be able to bet on things like the Academy Awards or election results.
Iowa sports betting history
The wheels were in motion in 2018 to legalize sports betting in Iowa pending a change at the federal level. Despite that happening, the year ended without the state taking action.
The debate carried over into 2019. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed off on legal sports betting in May. The goal was for sportsbooks to be live in advance of the NFL and college football seasons.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission helped to expedite the process, and retail and online betting launched in August. Here are some of the key yearly events from pre- to post-legalization.
- 2018: Efforts to legalize sports betting gain further traction after a US Supreme Court ruling in May 2018, but the year closes without substantive progress.
- 2019: Iowa’s governor signs sports betting into law in May 2019. From there it’s a quick turnaround to the launch of retail and online betting in August, just in time for the start of the NFL, NBA, and NHL seasons as well as the MLB postseason.
- 2020: Monthly sports betting handle eclipses the nine-figure mark for the first time in December, with a combined $104 million in wagers in Iowa. The year ends with more than $500 million in total bets.
- 2021: The in-person registration requirement expires at the start of the year, changing the game in the state. As such, Iowa sets a new all-time handle record of $287 million in November for a total of $2 billion bets for the year.
- 2022: An attempt to legalize esports betting in Iowa passed the House in March (HF 2497). Later in July, TheScore Bet stopped servicing users in Iowa, announcing it had stopped all US sports betting operations. Expanded sports betting, including betting on drafts and league awards, went into affect on July 1.
- 2023: Blackbird Bend Casino began offering in-person sports betting at it’s facility. It is the first casino on tribal land to offer in-person sports betting in the state.
Iowa sports betting FAQ
Is online sports betting legal in Iowa?
Yes, Iowa legalized online sports betting in 2019. The online and in-person launches took place in August 2019. Caesars Sportsbook was the first app to launch in the state.
Where can I bet on sports in IA?
There are 19 legal and regulated online sportsbooks to choose from in Iowa as of mid-2023. Retail sportsbooks are available at many of the state’s casinos, too:
- Ameristar Casino
- Blackbird Bend Casino
- Catfish Bend Casino
- Diamond Jo Casino
- Diamond Jo Worth
- Grand Falls Casino
- Hard Rock Sioux City
- Harrah’s Council Bluffs
- Horseshoe Casino
- Isle Casino Bettendorf
- Isle Casino Waterloo
- Lakeside Casino
- Prairie Meadows
- Q Casino
- Rhythm City Casino
- Riverside Casino
- Wild Rose Clinton
- Wild Rose Emmetsburg
- Wild Rose Jefferson
Is Bovada legal in Iowa?
No, Bovada does not have a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Offshore sportsbooks such as Bovada may advertise themselves as legal, but the reality is different. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission website has a complete list of licensed providers. If a site doesn’t have the IRGC stamp of approval, it’s not worth taking the risk to bet there.
What’s the legal sports betting age in IA?
The legal sports betting age in Iowa is 21. As part of the online registration process, sportsbooks will verify your identity and age. If they can’t do so, you’ll need to provide supporting documentation.
Can you bet on horse racing in Iowa?
Yes, it’s legal to bet on horse racing in Iowa. Live racing action is available at Prairie Meadows in Altoona on select dates. The venue also offers simulcasting, as do off-track betting sites at Q Casino and Wild Rose Clinton. Online horse betting at sites like TVG is also legal.
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in IA?
Iowa officially legalized daily fantasy sports contests in 2019 along with the broader sports betting law. DraftKings and FanDuel both operate their DFS sites in the state, and Iowa residents can sign up to play with either.
Can you bet on college sports in Iowa?
It’s legal to bet on both college and pro sports in Iowa. You can also bet on in-state teams such as Iowa and Iowa State. However, the state does not allow prop bets on individual college athletes.
More Iowa sports betting resources
- Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission website, information on rules and regulations, licensing, self-exclusion, and more.
- Full list of approved sports betting operators from the IRGC site.
- Text of 2019 sports betting law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
- Des Moines Register, coverage of local, state, and national sports.
- Quad-City Times, coverage of local, state, and national sports.