Iowa Sports Betting Apps State licensed online sports betting is available in Iowa. Iowa residents and tourists alike have the luxury of being able to place sports wagers within the comfort of their mobile devices. Iowa residents also have the option to use any of the available online betting sites. Online Gambling in Iowa. Iowa moved swiftly to become the first of America’s mid-western states and the 11th US state to launch sports betting. Bettors in the Hawkeye State can look forward to a regulated industry inclusive of both land-based betting and, eventually, full-scale mobile betting. Iowa is now a full-fledged sports betting state. There are both mobile and land-based options blooming all over the Hawkeye State. The boom of sports betting in the state is quite impressive for its relative speed. After all, sports betting only launched in the state in August 2019.

Iowa online gambling options extend to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and casinos, which include poker rooms. You can also legally bet on sports online within the state. However, online casinos and poker sites are currently not available.

In the last few years, Iowa also started to offer Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), so you can play both DraftKings and FanDuel DFS as well as their sportsbook apps.

For Iowans looking to play casino games online, Iowa offers sweepstakes casino sites to play slots, table games, and poker online for cash prizes.

Quick View Of Iowa Online Gambling

Online Gambling In Iowa – What’s Allowed

Iowa’s Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting is becoming even more common in states across the country. In Iowa, all sports betting sites are designed for both experienced bettors and newcomers. That is to say that you can find very straightforward moneyline or Over/Under bets as well as pari-mutuel wagers, point spreads, and exotics.

You can bet on all traditional team and individual sports in Iowa. This includes both professional and college-level contests. Some of the top brands in the country are available in Iowa, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, and PointsBet.

See our guide toIowa Online Sports Betting.

Betting On Horse Racing Online In Iowa

In some states, horse race wagers fall under the umbrella of the sportsbook. But in Iowa, you need to bet at a racebook to win money on the horses in almost all cases.

The one exception: Kentucky Derby futures. You can bet on who you think will win from the sportsbook app for that event only.

Iowa’s only horse racing track is Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel. They’ve partnered with William Hill to allow mobile sports betting. But, they do not offer online horse racing wagers (aside from Kentucky Derby futures). You’d have to go to the racetrack to bet win, place, show, and so on.

To bet on the horses online, you can go with TVG, which is available to 33 states, including Iowa. Other options exist as well, but make sure it’s a legitimate site by doing some research before joining.

Iowa’s Online Lottery Portal

While the Des Moines Register reported in December 2018 that there’s been a push to offer online lottery ticket sales, that has yet to manifest. For now, the only way to buy a lotto ticket or a scratch-off is by visiting a brick-and-mortar retailer.

Still, the Iowa Lottery website offers some online casino-like features that virtual bettors may enjoy.

Check out the promotions section, which promises something new every month. A common one is the “second chance” drawings on losing tickets. Other examples include winning free tickets of equal value and prize pool contests.

If you play the lotto often, you should join the Iowa Lottery VIP Club. The VIP Club offers free ticket newsletters, new promo notifications, upcoming contests, and more.

Iowa Daily Fantasy Sports

While Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has been available in dozens of states for years, Iowa just legalized it in 2019. So far, FanDuel and DraftKings are the only options, but more may pop up. However, those are the best two options in terms of win potential and promotions.

DFS is different from the sportsbook as defined by law. DraftKings and FanDuel actually lobbied lawmakers to define it as skill-based, separating it from traditional gambling legislation.

That’s why online DFS is available in far more states than online sports betting. It’s also why you can be eighteen or older rather than 21 and up to play DFS.

It’s also worth noting that DFS is the only legal sports betting outlet that includes esports.

Playing Sweepstakes Casinos In Iowa

If you want to play at a legal online casino in Iowa, your only option is a sweepstakes casino. Sweepstakes casino sites do not accept real-money wagers. While you can’t bet and win real-money directly, you can win prizes, including cash.

At Chumba Casino, for example, playing games earns Sweeps Cash. Players redeem Sweeps Cash points for cash prizes. Players can also win money and prizes through mail-in promotions and other rotating offers.

Playing Sweepstakes Poker Sites In Iowa

Sweepstakes poker sites are set up the same way as sweepstakes online casinos. In fact, the most popular sweepstakes poker site is Global Poker, which is owned by the same company that owns Chumba Casino.

You can enter tournaments, play sit-and-go, and so on at sweepstakes poker sites. They have promotions that include new player freerolls, just like the real-money poker sites in places like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

At both of these sites, buying the digital currency doesn’t increase your chances of winning any of the sweepstakes prizes. Instead, it simply allows you to play more often.

Online Casinos And Poker Sites In Iowa

In some states with no online casinos, it’s a matter of no licenses being given out. But in Iowa, the law specifically prohibits online casinos, and that includes real-money online poker.

It’s one thing to create new legislation to give licenses to online casino operators. It’s another to repeal an explicit law, then roll out new legislation.

It’s possible that folks in Iowa will have access to online casinos in the future. The majority of state residents approved legalizing sports betting. Also, online poker was up for a potential rollout as recently as 2011 and may see a comeback.

As Adam Sullivan pointed out in an article for The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, IA, poker is a skill-based game. If DFS is legal because of skill, then surely an argument can be made for online poker.

For both online casinos and poker sites in Iowa, only time will tell.

History Of Iowa’s Online Gambling Market

Iowa’s online gambling timeline is extremely short because legal online sportsbooks only launched in 2019. DFS was also illegal in the state until that same year.

While states with legal online casinos and poker sites saw a huge uptick in betting during the COVID-19 lockdowns, online sportsbooks did not.

This is because sports competitions worldwide stopped for an extended period of time. This dramatically limited the number of potential wagers. While you could still bet on Russian volleyball and Korean baseball, only the most avid Iowan bettors placed bets during that time.

A commission to study online poker was formed in 2011. The final report was delivered in December 2011. Since that time, no further movement has occurred on the online poker front. If online poker were to be legalized, another study would likely need to be commissioned as the original one would be out of date.

Any new legislation regarding online gambling will need political capital. However, the majority of Iowans were opposed to sports betting prior to legalization in February 2019. It became legal anyway, and a poll conducted in March 2020 showed that most support the new law.

That’s not to say anything is promising or unrealistic in the state. But online gambling in Iowa is a complex political debate that will continue to develop for years to come.

Overview Of In-Person Gambling In Iowa

A Brief History Of Iowa Casinos

The Hawkeye State didn’t have legal gambling legislation until 1983 with Iowa Code Chapter 99D – Pari-Mutuel Wagering. This made holding and betting on horse and dog races legal in the state.

Two years later, in 1985, the Iowa state lottery was formed. It also marked when you could buy a Mega Millions and Powerball ticket from within state lines.

In 1989, riverboat casinos launched within the state. Each county that hosted the floating casino would need to approve, and all but one did. But it wasn’t until 1991 that the first riverboat casinos welcomed gamblers.

Three tribal casinos opened in 1992. Legislation in 2004 aimed at reducing problem gambling eliminated the ability to gamble with credit cards and greatly reduced the number of ATMs at casinos.

By 2007, casinos expanded beyond riverboats to brick-and-mortar locations.

Fast Facts About Iowa Gambling

How Many Casinos Are There In Iowa?

Iowa boasts 23 casinos across the state. Four are tribal casinos and one is a riverboat casino.

The area with the most casinos is the border city of Council Bluffs. This is due to its proximity to Omaha, Nebraska, which has more than twice the population of Iowa’s largest city, Des Moines.

However, the casinos are pretty well dispersed throughout the state. Everyone in Iowa has a casino within driving distance. The vast majority can get to a casino in under an hour.

Here is a complete list of the casinos in Iowa:

Biggest Casinos In Iowa By Type

Casino

The two largest casinos in Iowa are Prairie Meadows in Altoona and the Horseshoe in Council Bluffs. Prairie Meadows has the most slot machines, and the Horseshoe has the most table games.

However, the Hard Rock in Sioux City might have the most square footage, which includes two different music venues.

Sportsbook

The largest sportsbook is Prairie Meadows, which includes a full-sized race track, full sportsbook, and over 1,700 different slot machines.

You can also download the William Hill sportsbook app while you’re there to bet on sports from anywhere within the state of Iowa.

Poker Room

Nine live poker rooms exist in the state of Iowa, and all share a building with casino games. The largest of the nine is Horseshoe Council Bluffs, which boasts 18 poker tables.

Lowdown On The Iowa Lottery

Local Lottery

The Iowa Lottery offers the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games, where correct numbers win a payout. But you can choose a set of three (or four) numbers and select the type of game you want to play: straight, box, and others. The longer the odds, the larger the payout.

Another unique lottery option in Iowa is InstaPlay. Your lottery ticket will print and you’ll know if you win instantly. It’s dubbed the “scratchless scratch-off” for this very reason. The most expensive the InstaPlay ticket, the bigger the potential prize.

The Iowa lottery also offers both pull-tab and scratch-off games.

Multi-State Lotteries

Iowa shares an interstate lottery with several other areas through the Mega Millions, Powerball, Lucky for Life, and Lotto America.

Retailers also offer a convenient “Play ‘Em All” ticket that allows you to buy tickets for all the Mega Balls and Powerballs available. Rather than buy a single $2 ticket, you’d pay $52 to “play ‘em all.”

When you buy a lotto ticket, you can simply receive random numbers through the lottery terminal. Or you can manually choose the numbers by asking the clerk for a playslip. Follow the instructions by filling in the number slots for the numbers you want to choose.

You can also do “multi-draws,” where you can have your numbers apply to multiple consecutive draws.

To check numbers, earn reward points, and get free tickets, download the LotteryPlus mobile app.

Horse Racing In Iowa

Horse racing in Iowa occurs only at the Prairie Meadows Racino in Altoona.

This venue hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse races. They also host special race days. You can find the full calendar of upcoming races on their website.

The main track no longer hosts harness racing. However, you can watch and bet on harness racing in the live sportsbook. Aside from Kentucky Derby futures, it’s not possible to bet on horse racing through the William Hill app in Iowa.

Greyhound racing still exists in Iowa at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque. They are currently only one of four states that still host pari-mutuel dog racing. It would be surprising if any states still offer it by the end of the decade.

Keep Learning: 5 Links To More Info On Iowa Gambling

• All Iowa Code statutes involving legal gambling.
• Iowa Casino Guide courtesy of the Des Moines Register.
• How to play different Iowa lottery options.
• Iowa tribal casinos guide and directory.

Iowa Online Gambling FAQs

The Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission (IRGC) regulates all forms of gambling in the state of Iowa other than the lottery. This includes Iowa online gambling. The IRGC also regulates local DFS operations, as their oversight powers extend to both online and land-based gambling. The lottery is run by the Iowa Lottery Authority.

The state first legalized casinos in Iowa in 1989 with the condition that it be a riverboat casino. In 1991, the first riverboat casino officially opened. The first land-based casino didn’t open until 2007.

In just 30 years, a state with no casino industry now has 23. However, most states outside of New Jersey and Nevada had no casinos until 1988. And Iowa has fewer casinos than most of the 39 states with a casino market.

Yes. The legal gambling age is 21 whether you’re gambling online or at a land-based casino.

If you thought the age requirement had to do with serving alcohol, you might still be right. But it doesn’t change the fact that legal adults can’t legally place real-money bets in Iowa until they’re 21 or over.

Yes. As long as you’re joining a locally-licensed online sportsbook, your personal information will remain safe. You’ll also know for sure that you won’t be ripped off by the operator.

However, you still need to gamble responsibly, which includes never betting more than you can afford to lose. Otherwise, no form of gambling is safe.

Legal online casinos, sportsbook apps, and poker sites are safe to play. State regulatory bodies across the US are extremely strict about game fairness and transparency, especially because gambling was legalized to generate tax revenue.

But we cannot recommend that anyone gamble online at offshore sites. While it may be tempting to play at an illegal online casino in a state without legal options, there’s no guarantee that your information remains safe or that the games are fair.

State law requires that you show your ID to prove that you’re 21 before you can enter a betting establishment. That’s why the online sportsbooks require you to be physically inside the casino to register.

The betting site may also ask for documentation, such as a photo of your ID, to confirm your identity before you make a withdrawal. This is to ensure that they’re sending your winnings to the right person.

Iowajoined the US sports betting market, with Governor Kim Reynolds’s signature on asports betting bill. The measure addedsports bettingto the list of legal gambling options in Iowa, which hosts more than 20 commercial and tribal casinos.

Both retail andonlinesports betting became legal in Iowa with the passage of the legislation. Iowa’s sports betting laws allow the state’s commercial casinos to offer online sports betting. It also permits those casinos to form partnerships with existing gaming companies for their sports betting platforms.

Iowa’s sportsbooks fall under the regulation of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The first of the state’s legal mobile sports betting products began to launch in August 2019. By 2020, Iowa’s sportsbooks were starting to see a lot of success. Iowa online sportsbooks recorded $6.37 million in revenue in October 2020, followed by $5.3 million in November.

All Iowa’s Online Sports Betting Apps

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• PointsBet Iowa
• BetRivers Iowa
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• William Hill Iowa
• BetFred
• Elite Sportsbook
• Hard Rock Sportsbook
• Q Sportsbook

Iowa’s Legal Online Sportsbooks

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook started by launching a retail sportsbook Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque. The casino dedicated over 2000 square feet of space to the FanDuel Sportsbook with 34 screens, self-serve betting kiosks, betting windows, and 3 sports tickers.

FanDuel also launched its online sportsbook in Iowa through its partnership with Diamond Jo. One of the top names in sports betting in the US, FanDuel is offering new Iowa bettors up to $1,000 in risk free bets.

Visit:FanDuel Iowa to claim $1,000 risk free bet bonus offer

BetMGM Sportsbook

In January 2021, BetMGM added Iowa to its growing list of sports betting markets in the US. The Iowa launch came just weeks before the app’s launch in both Michigan and Virginia. BetMGM partnered with Diamond Joe Casino to launch its online betting app in Iowa. The app is available for download to both Android and Apple iOS devices.

New Iowa bettors can claim a risk free bet offer up to $600.

Visit: BetMGM Iowa and claim up to $600 in a risk free bet offer

PointsBet Iowa

PointsBet brought its sportsbook, as well as its trademark “PointsBetting” wagering style, to Iowa in partnership with Catfish Bend Casino. That property, located in Burlington, plays home to PointsBet Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino.

A mobile version of PointsBet sportsbook launched in November 2019. “PointsBetting” allows bettors to win (or lose) more money on a bet based on the final score margin of a chosen game. In addition, PointsBet offers new players a variety of sportsbook bonus offers, the best of which offers bettors up to $1,500 in risk free bets.

Visit: PointsBet Iowa to claim up to $2,000 in risk free bets (use bonus code BIGBONUS)

DraftKings Sportsbook

One of the biggest names in the legal US sports betting market, DraftKings Sportsbook entered the Iowa market in February 2020 as a license partner of Wild Rose Resorts.

Iowa hosts three Wild Rose Casino locations, with properties in Clinton, Emmetsburg, and Jefferson. All three casinos host a live sportsbook, branded as DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose.

DraftKings Sportsbook also offers its services on an online platform, available as a desktop-based client, or as a downloadable mobile app.

Visit:DraftKings Indiana here for the latest bonus offers

BetRivers Iowa

BetRivers is one of the newest online sportsbooks to debut in Iowa. BetRivers is making a name for itself in sports betting by launching in several states. They were the first to launch inIllinoisand will be one of the first to launch inMichiganin 2021.

BetRivers stands out by offering a competitive bonus for new bettors. They are currently offering a 100% deposit match bonus offer up to $250. With only a 1x playthrough, this sportsbook bonus is quite attractive for new bettors who can’t meet playthrough requirements for other bonus offers.

William Hill Sportsbook

William Hill stands as the gaming technology brand powering four different sportsbooks in Iowa. Visitors to either of the state’s Isle Casino locations (Waterloo and Bettendorf), as well as Prairie Meadows Casino or Lakeside Hotel Casino, will find an on-property William Hill Sportsbook.

The William Hill Iowa online sports betting app offers another way to wager with the William Hill brand. The app is accessible to Iowa bettors from anywhere in the state.

New players can open a William Hill account by visiting any of the four properties partnered with the William Hill brand.

Elite Sportsbook

Elite Sportsbook functions as the in-house live and online sportsbook for the trio of Iowa properties owned by Elite Casino Resorts.

Elite Casino Resorts’ in-state properties include Grand Falls Casino, Riverside Casino, and Rhythm City Casino Resort. Elite Casinos teamed up with technology company Bet. Works to launch retail and mobile sports betting in Iowa.

Iowa’s in-person registration rules require new players to visit one of the three retail properties to sign up for the Elite Sportsbook app.

Hard Rock Sportsbook

Hard Rock Sioux City offers a self-branded retail sportsbook on property, as well as a mobile sports betting app available anywhere within Iowa borders.

The online version of Hard Rock Sportsbook joined the Iowa market in December 2019. Hard Rock Sportsbook’s online platform can be accessed as a browser-based desktop client, or downloaded as an app for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Q Sportsbook

Located in Dubuque, Q Casino runs both a live and online version of its self-branded sportsbook. The online version of Q Sportsbook launched in Iowa in December 2019.

Q Sportsbook partnered with IGT, one of the most respected brands in gaming technology, to bring its sports betting services to the Iowa market.

BetFred Iowa

BetFred launched in both Iowa andColoradoin 2020. The BetFred app is easy to access but doesn’t offer the same kinds of bells and whistles as other Iowa sportsbooks. Because it isn’t as widely available as other sportsbooks in the US, it also means it hasn’t had time to develop and we anticipate we will see a lot of improvements to the app in 2021. BetFred is partnered with Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Iowa.

What Other Legal Sportsbooks Are Coming To Iowa?

Unibet Sportsbook

International online gaming brand Unibet already offers online sports betting in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. An Iowa version of Unibet’s online sportsbook is approved and will operate as a licensed partner of Harrah’s Council Bluffs.

What Online Sportsbook Bonuses Are Available In Iowa?

Risk-Free Bet

Many US-facing legal online sportsbooks offer risk-free bet promotions for new players. A risk-free bet acts as a rebate on your first wager made at an online sportsbook if that bet results in a loss.

Most risk-free bet bonuses sit in the $500 range. FanDuel Sportsbook offers a risk-free bet, up to $1000, for new Iowa bettors.

The rebate only applies to losing wagers. For example, if your first bet atFanDuel Sportsbook Iowais a $1000 bet on the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the Hawkeyes lose, FanDuel refunds the $1000.

If the Hawkeyes win, however, you just win the amount dictated by the odds of the bet.

Deposit Match Bonuses

Legal online sportsbooks, casinos, and poker rooms often offer deposit match bonuses to new players. This kind of offer usually applies to the first deposit made at an online gambling site after signing up.

Elite Sportsbook offers one of the most generous deposit match bonuses among Iowa’s online sportsbooks. Upon registering a new account, bettors can enjoy a 50% deposit match bonus up to $200.

What makes this offer so appealing is the absence of a playthrough requirement. The Elite Sportsbook deposit match bonus offer instantly puts the bonus free betting credits in your account after you deposit. Once the credits appear in your account, you must use them within seven days or the offer expires.

Now that BetRivers entered Iowa, they offer an even more competitive 100% deposit match bonus up to $250. The BetRivers deposit match bonus only requires a 1x playthrough.

Deposit Match Playthrough Requirements

Deposit match bonuses at other online sportsbooks often require playthrough, which means you must bet a certain multiple of your initial deposit to unlock the bonus.

DraftKings Sportsbook, for instance, offers a 20% deposit match up to $1000. The bonus comes with a 25x playthrough requirement, meaning for every $25 wagered, $1 of bonus money is unlocked.

Different sportsbooks run deposit match promotions with different playthrough requirements, so be sure to check terms and conditions carefully to understand how playthrough works at a given sportsbook.

What Sports Can You Bet On In Iowa?

Betting On US Pro Sports In Iowa

Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks offer the full range of betting options across virtually all major domestic sports leagues. This includes NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL betting.

Betting options for all four major team sports include moneyline, point spread, and totals (over/under) betting on virtually every regular and postseason game. Championship games and series, like the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, and World Series, offer Iowa bettors the opportunity to wager on some of the most anticipated events of the year.

Other ways to bet on domestic sports leagues include parlays, teasers, futures, and in-game betting. Some online sportsbooks offer in-play betting, a version of in-game betting in which lines change every few seconds as a game plays on.

NASCAR, PGA, UFC And Other Ways To Bet On US Sports

Many other US sports leagues await on the betting menus at Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks. NASCAR, UFC, WNBA, PGA, tennis, and MLS add to the list of opportunities to bet on US sports.

The number of leagues available for betting on the US sports calendar offers Iowa bettors the chance to get in the action at virtually any time of the year.

College Sports Betting In Iowa

Some states with legal sports betting pass legislature that restricts betting on in-state college sports teams and events. In New Jersey, for example, bettors can’t bet on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, or on any college contest that takes place within New Jersey.

Iowa sports betting laws dictate only one restriction on college sports betting. In-game prop betting on Iowa-based college athletes isn’t allowed. All other types of wagering are on the table, however.

Betting On The Iowa Hawkeyes

The University of Iowa Hawkeyes stand as the state’s most high-profile college sports program. The Hawkeyes compete in the Big Ten Conference, which is one of the nation’s most competitive conferences in both college football and college basketball.

Under current football head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have maintained a tradition of excellence. In Ferentz’ two-decade tenure, Iowa has played in 17 bowl games and won the Big Ten Championship twice.

The college basketball side of the Big Ten plays equally as fierce as its football counterpart. Iowa faces the challenge of an annual conference schedule that includes powerhouse programs like the Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, Maryland Terrapins, and several other perennial contenders.

The Hawkeyes have advanced to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, aka March Madness, in five of the past seven seasons.

Aside from the ban on in-game prop betting, Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks present myriad ways to wager on the Hawkeyes.

Betting On The Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State University Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference, another major and influential conference in both NCAA FBS Division I football and NCAA college basketball.

The Big 12 football schedule pits Iowa State against national top 10 regulars like the Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears, and TCU Horned Frogs every year.

Current head coach Matt Campbell has steered the program in a winning direction in his four-year tenure. In three of Campell’s four seasons, the Cyclones have finished the year with an appearance in a bowl game.

The Big 12 also features a fierce lineup of championship contenders in men’s basketball. Iowa State plays a conference schedule that includes the Kansas Jayhawks, Baylor Bears, Oklahoma Sooners, and West Virginia Mountaineers every year.

All of those teams present a threat to win a national championship in any given season. Facing that top-level competition, the Cyclones have advanced to March Madness three times in the five-year tenure of current head coach Steve Prohm.

In both basketball and football, Iowa bettors can wager on the Cyclones throughout regular and postseason play.

What International Sports Can I Bet On In Iowa?

US-based sports leagues and events provide only a part of the overall menu of betting markets at Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks.

International soccer stands as the world’s most popular sport, and many overseas soccer leagues present wagering opportunities. Major leagues like the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Spanish La Liga offer betting throughout the entire season in each league.

International baseball, basketball, motorsports, and MMA events expand the betting menu even further for Iowa bettors. Iowa’s online sportsbooks offer betting on Aussie Rules Football, Cricket, and rugby as well.

Can You Bet On Esports In Iowa?

Betting on esports at Iowa’s online sportsbooks isn’t currently permitted. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted in June 2020 to allow daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms to include esports contests.

That June 2020 meeting also included a request from the Iowa Gaming Association to include esports betting at the state’s legal sportsbooks. No progress was made on that request, however, and for now, esports betting remains illegal in Iowa.

What Else Can I Bet On In Iowa?

Niche sports push the boundaries of legal sports wagering even further at Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks. Table tennis, darts, chess, and even hot dog eating contests appear on sports betting menus throughout the year.

Popular Ways To Deposit At Iowa’s Legal Online Sports Betting Sites

ACH/eCheck

The ACH/eCheck deposit method stands as the most widely accepted way to put funds into your account at Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks.

ACH stands for Automatic Clearing House, and an eCheck deposit drafts an electronic check from your bank account and sends it through ACH for processing. This approval process happens instantaneously, and the funds become available on your sports betting account right away.

Virtually all legal online sportsbooks in the US accept ACH/eCheck deposits, but this method does occasionally get rejected by the issuing bank. ACH/eCheck deposits go through about 80 percent of the time.

Debit and Credit Cards

Like ACH/eCheck, most major debit and credit cards can be used to make deposits at many of Iowa’s online sportsbooks. Credit and debit card deposits do get denied by the issuing bank at a higher rate than ACH/eCheck, however.

When this method is approved, the funds become instantly available on your legal sportsbook account. One thing to watch for when using a credit card is the application of cash advance fees. These can be avoided by using a debit card instead of a credit card.

PayPal

PayPal offers one of the most secure and reliable methods for depositing at Iowa’s legal online sportsbooks. PayPal deposits take a bit longer to complete versus some of the other methods, requiring a few extra security steps.

PayPal deposits go through nearly 100 percent of the time, however. Not all online sportsbooks accept PayPal, but it represents one of the best ways to deposit at sportsbooks that do accept this method.

Casino Cage Deposit

Iowa law requires players to register for online sports betting accounts in person, at the casino licensing a chosen online sportsbook. This requirement lasts through the beginning of 2021.

Iowa bettors can also deposit and withdraw funds from the casino cage of the property licensing an online sportsbook. To deposit at DraftKings Sportsbook, for example, you could visit the casino cage at any of Iowa’s three Wild Rose Casino locations.

What Is The Biggest Online Sportsbook In Iowa By Revenue?

William Hill Sportsbook reigns supreme as the top-earning legal online sportsbook brand on the Iowa landscape. William Hill offers online sports betting with three different licensed casino partners.

The William Hill Sportsbook at Prairie Meadows online sports betting platform takes the spot as the top-earning mobile sportsbook in the state. Prairie Meadows operates as a county-owned horse racetrack and casino in Polk County, Iowa.

Other William Hill online sports betting partners include Isle Casino. The Isle Casino brand hosts two Iowa locations, both owned by Eldorado Resorts. The online version of William Hill Sportsbook at Isle Casino comes in as the second-highest earning mobile sports betting platform in Iowa since products started launching in August 2019.

DraftKings Sportsbookwent live in Iowa in February 2020, as a licensed partner of the Wild Rose Casino brand. In June 2020, the fourth full month of operations in the state, DraftKings Sportsbook realized its best performance so far, coming in second in monthly revenue behind William Hill Sportsbook at Prairie Meadows.

The Iowa online sports betting market remains competitive, with Elite Sportsbook also in the discussion of the most popular mobile sports betting platforms in the state.

Iowa Online Gambling Sites

What Do I Need To Create An Online Sportsbook Account In Iowa?

Iowa bettors must register in person for an online sportsbook account. Iowa’s sports betting laws mandate this in-person requirement until January 1, 2021.

After that date, registering for a mobile sportsbook account can be accomplished from the convenience of anywhere within Iowa borders, directly from the chosen sports betting app. For now, however, you must visit the casino licensing a given online sportsbook, and find the physical sportsbook inside the casino.

From there, the sportsbook staff will likely ask for:

• A valid ID, verifying that you’re at least 21 years old.
• Valid email address.
• Username and password of your choice.

After the sportsbook verifies those details, you should be able to deposit funds using any method accepted at your sportsbook of choice. From there, the online sportsbook is accessible from anywhere in Iowa.

Iowa’s Legal Online Sports Betting Market

Iowa offers both retail sportsbook locations and online sports betting. Like in Nevada, you need to visit a brick-and-mortar casino in Iowa to register at a sportsbook app. Meanwhile, states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey allow remote registration.

Luckily, Iowa casinos are spread across the state in such a way that most won’t have to travel too far to register. Since the casinos are also hotels, you could make it a day trip or stay the weekend.

Online Gambling In Iowa

Why Register At An Iowa Online Sportsbook?

Once registered, you’re a lifetime member at that sportsbook app, so you don’t need to worry about going back. From then on, you can bet from anywhere in the state, any time, directly from your mobile device. That includes making deposits and cashing out.

Iowa Sportsbooks By Location

Sportsbooks in Iowa may or may not offer a sports betting app.

If you find a specific online sportsbook that you prefer, you have to be physically located inside the casino to register. That may require significant travel.

However, if you’re just looking for the closest sportsbook app, this table should serve as especially helpful:

Legal Online Sportsbooks Versus Illegal Online Sportsbooks

Iowa sports betting laws mandate that all legal online sportsbooks must operate in partnership with land-based casinos. Some of Iowa’s retail casinos, like the trio of properties owned by Elite Casinos, operate their own mobile sports betting brands, such as Elite Sportsbook.

Legal Online Gambling In Iowa

Other properties choose to form partnerships with existing gaming brands to offer their mobile sports betting services. The Wild Rose Casino brand, for example, uses DraftKings Sportsbook as a licensed partner to offer online sports betting in Iowa.

All legal sportsbooks in Iowa operate as extensions of legal retail casinos. With that being the case, all online sportsbooks fall under the regulation of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), which oversees Iowa’s casino industry.

The oversight of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ensures transparency, fair practices, and accountability in all facets of operations from Iowa’s casinos. Iowa bettors can enjoy the state’s legal mobile sportsbooks with the assurance that these products are tightly regulated and audited by the IRGC.

Your money is safe at a legal online sportsbook in Iowa. Offshore gambling sites and unregulated bookmakers cannot offer that same level of security with your funds. Depositing and betting in Iowa outside of the state’s regulated platforms presents a risky proposition.

Iowa Online Sportsbook FAQs

21 or older. The minimum age to legally bet at an online sportsbook in Iowa is 21. This minimum age applies to any kind of casino gambling in the Hawkeye State.

To register for an online sports betting account, you must visit the casino licensing an online sportsbook, and provide ID verification certifying your age.

Yes. DraftKings Sportsbook offers an online platform to Iowa bettors. The brand operates in Iowa as a licensed partner of Wild Rose Casino, and debuted the online version of DraftKings Sportsbook in the state in February 2020.

Iowa is one of seven states in which DraftKings Sportsbook legally operates. When logging into the DraftKings Sportsbook online client, navigate to the bottom of the homepage and click on “Casino Partners” to find the list of states and license partners offering DraftKings Sportsbook.

Not yet. FanDuel Sportsbook has a partnership in place with Diamond Jo Casino, and that property hosts a FanDuel-branded live sportsbook.

That partnership will almost certainly yield an online FanDuel Sportsbook platform in Iowa at some point, but the launch of such a product is TBA for now.

No. Online sportsbooks in general don’t offer players the ability to play on credit. That policy could vary across different casinos in Iowa when it comes to other casino games, but to wager at online sportsbooks you must make a real-money deposit.

Yes, with one restriction – in-game prop bets on athletes playing for Iowa-based schools is not allowed. For example, a prop bet on the number of points an Iowa Hawkeyes player will score in a college basketball game isn’t permitted under Iowa sports betting law.

Aside from that restriction, all college sports, including those involving Iowa’s college programs, are open for wagering at legal sportsbooks.

Yes, until January 1, 2021. Iowa sports betting law mandates that registration for an online sports betting account must be done in person, at the casino licensing a given online sportsbook.

This in-person registration requirement expires at the end of 2020, and after that remote registration will become available.

Internet Gambling Iowa

To collect your winnings at an online sportsbook in Iowa, you need to request a withdrawal through the platform. You can also visit the casino cage at a partnering land-based casino to retrieve your winnings in cash.

The most common cashout options at sports betting apps in Iowa include:

Is Online Gambling Legal In Iowa

• PayPal
• Direct bank transfer
• Check by mail
• Prepaid card

No. Anyone over the age of 21 can join a sportsbook app. That includes folks visiting from other countries as well as states.

However, you must be within Iowa state lines to place real-money bets. That’s why you need to have location tracking turned on before you can start playing.

Yes. In the sense that they’re fair and safe, Iowa sportsbook apps are legit. This state’s market also has some of the biggest names in sports betting, including DraftKings and William Hill. Both offer hyper-competitive odds and lucrative promotions that make them world leaders, and both earn their international reputation for excellence.