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Iowa Sports Betting Overview

Ever since Iowa sports betting was legalized in May 2019, the state has become one of the hubs for the industry with various sportsbooks entering the picture. Long gone are the days where bettors had to sign up for gambling houses in person, and it did not take long for the state to catch up to the latest trends with the help of Iowa sports betting apps, and the rise of these platforms have given bettors a chance to enjoy promising experiences in placing wagers in their favorite games.

As of 2024, sports betting in Iowa has been accessible from a wide array of betting sites, with a lot of approved and authorized sportsbooks by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for players to safely enjoy registering, depositing, betting, and even withdrawing winning from their betting accounts. As of the time of writing, there are a total of 17 Iowa sportsbook operators in active work.

Best offers in Iowa as of May 2025

recommended

Free Bets

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Fanduel review

4.3 /5

Must be 21+ and present in an eligible state. T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Fanatics Sportsbook review

4.3 /5

Must be 21+ and present in an eligible state. T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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DraftKings review

4.5 /5

Must be 21+ and present in an eligible state. T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 GAMBLER.

Table of Contents

Betting sites

How to place bets

Bonuses

Popular sports

Depositing and withdrawing

Advantages

Legality

History

Faq

When looking for top Iowa sports betting sites, focus on the following factors that will help you to make your gaming experience enjoyable and safe:

Trusted sites
Promotions and offers

Optimal banking options
Best betting odds

Reliable customer service
Available help center

To find a good and reliable website, one must take time and look through Iowa casino sports betting reviews. A good betting site will have positive ones regarding fair play, payout winners, and respectful treatment of their customers. Thus, reviews are always available online: comments and feedback from the 3rd party are extremely helpful tools for choosing a safe, trusted website.

Top Sportsbooks in Iowa

If you are looking to come up with a chance to score big winnings in your wagers, look no further than Iowa’s top sports betting sites that you can consider. These sportsbooks are revered well for their immense offers and impressive experience like you’ve never seen before.

Here are the top five Iowa sportsbooks that you should try for a promising sports betting experience:

FanDuel - if you are looking for some interesting same-game parlays, FanDuel is the best option that you can consider, especially as it is equipped with the best competitive odds and is revered as the country’s best football betting app.
DraftKings - Iowa sports betting is taken up a notch with DraftKings, thanks to its huge array of betting markets and a lot of promising promotions that you can surely enjoy to spice up your betting experience.
Bet365 - Continuously making its presence felt in the United States, bet365 has made leaps in serving Iowa bettors with a ton of bonuses, promotions, and a highly-immersive sports betting app that can get you up to speed.
Caesars - considered as a winning sportsbook that many people enjoy betting on, Caesars lives up to its reputation of being the best in the industry, as well as having a first-class customer support that allows players to have a seamless betting experience.
Fanatics Sportsbook - as one of the most recent platforms to enter the betting scene in Iowa, Fanatics has become a staple in just a few months thanks to its rewards program and a modern and immersive mobile app that comes along with a promising NFL live stream.

Sports betting apps

Iowa sports betting apps are about convenience and a wide selection of betting features. Online bettors had 18 months only to feel the privilege of using the services of online sportsbooks. Another important feature available to IA players is live betting: wagering when the sports event of your choice takes place.

IA apps are user-friendly, the registration process is simplified, and many payment options contribute to fast deposits and withdrawal of funds. In addition, claiming bonuses and placing bets from your mobile device is a time-saving process, allowing you to enjoy the actual betting process and the game itself.

Before the app download, the player chooses the best site among the available ones in Iowa. To do that, it is wise taking time to read the reviews left by other players, learn more about customer service, and compare the bonuses and options offered to make a sound choice.

A player can download the app of the brand chosen from the Google Play or the App Store or (in case it does not provide an app for your device) access the platform using their website.

Install the app, register to get your sportsbook account, and verify your e-mail to activate your account. After that, you can claim a deposit bonus as a newly registered player, make a deposit, and wager.

IA apps are user-friendly and easily navigated. For example, you choose sports to wager from the list of betting interfaces and games and bets. These are the main sections:

Account

It has your data, betting history, and bonus offers' progress.

Cashier

It provides information about your balance, depositing and withdrawal options.

Bonuses and Promotions

This is where you can find the ongoing bonuses and promos.

Responsible Gambling

This section is mainly for support of the wagerers, who encountered gambling issues, bet limits, timeout tools, or even self-exclusion.

Live betting

This section is not provided on all apps. It offers the underway events for betting.

List of Sports

Shows the major events, top pro leagues, and niche sports.

List of Games

As soon as you choose the sport of interest, the primary league games will open for you. Scroll down for the available fixture to bet on. You can use filters to get to the division/college games.

Bet Slip

This is where you can manage your bets before placing a wager.

Brands compete to create the most user-friendly interface and provide a wide selection of sports, from big pro leagues to niche ones. In addition, the sportsbooks provide quality customer service online to contribute to a positive experience in their customers' use of the given online betting service.

The way to place bets

To participate in Iowa casinos sports betting, a player does not have to be a legal resident of the given state. A bettor is to be 21+. Their name is not on any gambling self-exclusion list. When placing the bet, the player must be physically within Iowa state. Customers in Iowa can safely register at any legal sports operator within the state. Any of the 17 sportsbooks can be easily accessed for safe registration. You can also use your mobile device or desktop computer to enjoy betting online.

Iowa sports betting image

These are the main steps to be taken for registering and placing the bet:

Get on the operator's mobile/desktop site and click "register"/"create an account," and type in the information required;
Choose a username and password to activate your account;
Deposit money into the account using the banking options provided by the online establishment. Some sportsbook Iowa may ask for additional identity proof (state ID, passport, or driver's license) to approve your first deposit;
As soon as the funds are received, you can bet. Remember to claim the sign-up bonuses available.

Sports betting online provides a great number of betting options for its customers.

Iowa sports betting bonuses and how they work

Iowa sportsbook promotional offers aim to encourage newcomers to sign up and experience all the benefits of betting on the site chosen.

Iowa betting establishments grant their players many bonuses and promos to stay competitive. There are six active sportsbooks, providing excellent welcome bonuses for the new wagerers and on-running promotions to ensure the loyalty of the existing ones.

These are the most prevalent bonuses Iowa sportsbooks offer:

Free Bets

With free bets, having placed a deposit, a player receives a certain amount for betting. So if you, for example, bet free $5 and gain another $5 - you'll be up $5 in real cash. But if you bet and lose - no gain.

Risk-free Bet

Iowa sportsbooks offer risk-free bets as a welcoming offer to the new player. Having registered and created an account, the newcomer can safely bet, and their 1st wager will be refunded in case it loses.

Money-back

Money-back bonus, proposed by sportsbook IA, is available on top-ranked gaming sites. This is how it works: if a player's bet doesn't come in, they receive a refund.

Deposit bonus

A deposit bonus in Iowa sports betting is also offered to the new wagerers, encouraging them to register and create an account. The bonus provided will match the amount of the deposit made by the new player.

No deposit bonus

By providing a no-deposit bonus, the betting sites of Iowa encourage new bettors to register and place their first wager without risking their funds. Then, if the bet is successful - they can win real money.

Enhanced odds

Enhanced odds are boosts added artificially by the sportsbook in Iowa to the odds offered on a specified event.

Reload bonus

Reloading takes place when a player deposits on their account. Reload bonus in Iowa sports betting allows bettors, who reloaded their account, to claim a percentage of the funds placed as a bonus.

Parlay bonus

Sports betting in Iowa offers a parlay bonus to the new players. A parlay bat usually comprises two or more bets in one. A player must succeed in all the individual bets to win this one. Losing even one individual bet means that the parlay is lost. At the same time, winning a parlay will contribute to bigger payouts. Thus, when a new player qualifies for a bonus, they get an extra bonus for winning their parlay.

Iowa websites for betting grant loyal bettors many promotions, rewards, and loyalty programs. Existing customers can enjoy parlay and odds boosts, bonus store points, free bets, parlay insurance, bet insurance, and a plentiful of special offers.

Sports can you bet on in Iowa

Iowa online sports betting opens a great list of possibilities for bettors, from college sports to professional events. As of now, Iowa has a lot of retail sportsbooks with sports betting permissions.

Iowa sportsbook offers legal betting on the following sports:

Auto racing
Baseball
Bowling
Basketball
Boxing

Cricket
Darts
Football
Golf
Hockey

Soccer
Tennis
Track and Field
Horse racing
Sailing

Lacrosse
Mixed martial arts
Olympics (Summer, winter + trials)
Rugby

Iowa sports betting provides players with breathtaking chances to bet on NHL, NFL Super Bowl, UFC, World Series, and NBA finals - the events which make US fans and TV viewers catch their breath.

Football is the biggest game for Americans. Thus, NFL opens tremendous possibilities for online sports betting Iowa during the regular season and the Super Bowl. In addition, many fans of the leading football teams will enjoy in-play betting.

During the NBA season, basketball is another perfect option for Iowa sports betting.

Hockey (NHL) popularity increased in the last few years, making it one of the most famous sports in Iowa sports betting.

The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is extremely popular among bettors because of a good deal of betting interest and excellent UFC events in general. A player can wager on the fighter of their choice, enjoying many proposition betting opportunities like the number of rounds the event will last, the finishing method, etc.

Soccer (MLS) is another common sport among IA bettors, especially when it comes to placing bets on the games of major US and European leagues, the UEFA Championships, and the FIFA World Cup.

NASCAR events bring fans and bettors together, as this popular sport is a pleasure to watch and bet on. Especially given the fact that NASCAR events result in extensive markets. Additionally, you may enjoy betting on IndyCar and Formula One events.

Betting on college sports in Iowa

Sports betting in Iowa prohibits only in-game prop betting on IA college athletes. College football and basketball remain top-rated among IA bettors. So when you've made up your mind to place a bet on college football, pay attention to this list of the most popular options:

Regular season games (every team)
Win totals for each team
Conference championship winners
Postseason games (top-rated schools)
Playoff games for national championship participants
Award winners

College sports in Iowa image

Iowa sports betting on college basketball is also on the top list of bettors. These are the options to consider for successful betting:

Regular season games
Overs/Unders on totals winner
March Madness
NCAA National Championship
Player of the year
The final four

Live betting is also an excellent opportunity for players to bet even on the smallest events during the event in sportsbooks in Iowa.

Totals, spreads, money lines, futures, player and game props, and building parlays are the most widespread forms of Iowa sports betting in college sports.

Depositing and withdrawing at sportsbook sites

Sports betting establishments in Iowa provide a wide range of payment options to contribute to positive and less time-consuming experiences for their bettors. These are the alternatives offered by the majority of online sportsbooks Iowa:

ACH/E-CHECK

A good opportunity for bettors with checking accounts accessible online to fund their account.

Play+

A time-saving option that helps to avoid extra charges during deposits and withdrawals.

Credit/debit Cards

Convenient payment option, though fees may be attached; can be used for deposits only.

PayNearMe

Cash-only deposit, engaging the 3rd party (7/Eleven, Family Dollar, CVS Pharmacy); a wagerer is to scan the barcode to transfer cash to their betting account.

Paypal

Bettors can easily top up their personal PayPal account using bank transfers, debit/credit card deposits, and user-to-user transfers.

Skrill

Can be used for fast withdrawals to any player's linked accounts; extra fees may be included.

Prepaid card

This is an optimal solution for deposits, which is easy to process. Some top operators introduced branded prepaid cards that can be used almost like a debit card without extra fees.

Wire transfer

Can be easily used for funding your account via your online bank. It is a good option for both deposits and withdrawals.

Casino cage

Good for personal withdrawals from the affiliated casino. Please remember that for this type of operation, you are to provide the Sportsbook account number.

Neteller

An e-wallet that is widely offered as an available banking option by a great number of operators. Is to be connected to your sportsbook account; for instant deposits and withdrawals.

Advantages you get from betting online in Iowa

Iowa sports betting has its history. Iowa has fought for its chance for online betting legalization, which allows today the customers to enjoy a wide range of quality bets accompanied by bonuses, rewards, and loyalty programs. To stay competitive, top-ranked sportsbooks keep enlarging betting opportunities while providing quality service and rewards for newly registered and existing players.

Integrated sportsbooks offer many available choices, making it possible to enjoy legal betting when you feel like it. There is no need to go to the land-based establishments or take a long drive to Atlantic City. You need Internet access, your device, and a fast registration process. Having registered, you can safely and efficiently use the services provided by Iowa online betting establishments.

Iowa Hawkeyes image

Today the bettor can safely enter any sportsbook online without the fear of being scammed. IA online betting sites do their best to provide safe betting to their customers, while Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) regulates the casino industry, including online betting sites. Iowa sports betting apps are good time-savers when it comes to Iowa sports betting at any time from any place.

Bonuses, rewards, and excellent betting odds provided by IA sportsbooks are good reasons to try online betting.

IA sportsbooks offer a very good deal of ongoing and one-off promotions. When we speak about ongoing rewards, remember that those can come in two types: promotions and loyalty schemes. In addition, promotions can reoccur, like in the case of parlay insurance: a player gets their stake back in case larger parlays are lost by one leg.

Some sportsbooks provide frequent odds boosts for some games or a combination of 2+ games. In case you know exactly the game you want to wager, check the promo pages of several books, as they might be available for an odds boost.

Reload bonuses, enhanced loyalty point deals pick contests, and many IA sportsbooks offer free bets.

When it comes to loyalty schemes, there is a wide range of feature cash-back offers, from simple (flat rate) to more complex ones with tiers, which have a good chance of unlocking bonuses and promotions.

Legality

Is sports betting legal in Iowa? This is the question that deserves special attention.

In 2019 the legislature approved legal sports betting in Iowa, including Iowa sports betting apps. All legal Iowa sports gambling serves as extensions of the legal retail establishments. Thus Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) governs sports betting in the state which regulates the casino industry. Thus, IRGC is responsible for issuing licenses and governing the operation of pari-mutuel, ensuring that the online betting establishment sticks to the rules.

There are certain regulations a player is to be aware of when it comes to Iowa sports betting: A player must be 21+ to bet on sports, remote registration is allowed, wagering on pro, as well as college sports, is permitted, while payer prop bets and in-play betting on college games are illegal.

Thus, each licensed online betting establishment is a place where your data and funds are safe.

A vast range of bet types is offered by Iowa sports betting online establishments and is available on Iowa sports betting apps.

History of sports betting in Iowa

Iowa was the first to legalize casinos on riverboats along the Mississippi river as early as the 19th century.

In 1983 Iowa legalized dogs and horse racing but had to come a long way in online betting legislation. In 2018 legislation for online sports betting and retail was introduced. The attempt failed, though it created a good background for the 2019 legislation.

In May of the same year, the US Supreme Court annulled the Protection and Amature Sports Protection Act, removing the federal prohibition on sports wagering. This was when all states were allowed to allow legal sports betting.

In May 2019, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the IA online sports betting bill into law, and in August of the same year, IA sportsbooks and retail became available.

On January 1, 2021, the In-person sports betting registration requirement ran out. So from that on, Iowa bettors can comfortably register remotely, using quality online services provided by the industry.

Starting in January 2021, Iowa players started using the most comfortable online betting version - the apps provided by the top-ranking betting sites. As a result, the registration process, depositing, placing bets, claiming bonuses, and withdrawals became even handier.

To start off 2024, Iowa’s sports betting industry has soared to bigger heights, with revenue going off the charts one month after another. As of the time of writing, ESPN BET and Fanatics are the latest sportsbooks to enter the fray in Iowa’s sports betting scene, and it cannot be denied that more are slated to join in by the end of 2024.

FAQ

Will IA sportsbooks see my location?

Yes, they will. When signing up for any IA sportsbooks, geolocation software is among the requirements. This procedure is important to ensure the bettor places wagers within IA state boundaries.

How can I get my winnings?

You are to request a withdrawal through the platform or visit the Casino Cage at a partnering land-based establishment to get your winning in cash.

What are cash out options at IA betting apps?

The most common are Paypal, direct bank transfer, and prepaid cards

Why do sportsbooks ask for my SSN?

The SSN (Social Security Number) verifies that you are eligible to bet. Sportsbooks aim to keep themselves safe from violations, which result in fines or their license revocation. The SSN is also important to simplify the process of tax paying: According to the policy, 25% of your winning is to be withheld.

Author: Paul Daniel Flores

Updated: 1 year ago

Author: Paul Daniel Flores

Writer l Sports and Esports Expert

Updated: 1 year ago

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