Iowa Sports Betting

Gamblers aged 21 or over can now place bets online or through their mobile phones. Over a dozen Iowa casinos have retail sportsbooks and mobile apps, powered by the biggest operators in the industry.

In this guide, we will reveal everything you need to know about legal sports betting in Iowa.

Best Iowa Sports Betting Sites

Up To $1,250 On Caesars

In-game Betting
Stream Matches
Quick Withdrawals

NJ only. 21+. New users and first $10+ wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. Bet amount of qualifying wager returned only if wager is settled as a loss. Maximum bet credit $1,250; must be used within 14 days of receipt. Tier Credits and Reward Credits will be added to account within 7 days after qualifying wager settles. Void where prohibited. Gambling Problem? If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Read More

Get a $250 Risk-Free Bet

Numerous Betting Markets
In-game Betting
Cash-out Option

New players only. Terms and conditions apply. 21+.

Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets

No Bonus Wagering Requirement
Weekly Promotions
Slick Mobile App

New Customers only. Bet $1 and get $365 in Bonus Bets. Sign up, deposit (minimum $10) to your account and place a qualifying bet of $1 to get $365 in Bonus Bets once your bet is settled with bet365. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.

Is online sports gambling legal in Iowa?

Live and online sports betting became legal in Iowa in August 2019. To place bets, you must be aged 21 or over and download a dedicated mobile app. You’ll also have to register in-person at an Iowa casino to start placing wagers.

In passing SF 617 Iowa became the latest US state to legalize betting sites, joining heavy hitters like Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. So, whether you live in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Waterloo, you can start placing wagers on your favorite sporting events.

You can place legal bets at any Iowa casino that operates a retail sportsbook. Sportsbooks also offer mobile apps which let you place bets through your smartphone.

You’ll be able to open an online account too as long as you visit a casino first and confirm your ID and age. Once set up, you can place online sports bets anywhere in Iowa.

Iowa sports betting is overseen by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. A tax of 7.5% on revenue is levied on operators. Prairie Meadows was first to the mark with a fully-operational sportsbook. It launched in partnership with William Hill shortly after the new online gambling law was passed.

Complete List Of Iowa Sports Betting Apps

It’s simple to get started with a mobile app offering Iowa sports betting. You can pre-register online as long as you provide a home address, email, mobile phone number, device, and carrier.

BetRivers – $250 Deposit Bonus

BetRivers is one of the leading mobile sportsbook operators in the United States. It was late to the Iowa sports betting market compared to its rivals but has finally launched the BetRivers sportsbook in partnership with Rush Street Interactive.

PointsBet – $1000 in Risk-Free Bets

Aussie betting giant, PointsBet, launched its Iowa sports betting app in November 2019 in partnership with Catfish Bend Casino.

PointsBet made their name as a major leader in points betting where you can win money based on how accurate your predictions are. However, the provider now offers straight sports betting markets like moneyline, totals, and spread.

DraftKings – $1000 Deposit Bonus

DFS and sports betting giant, DraftKings Sportsbook, launched in Iowa in February 2020. The daily fantasy sports provider already enjoys a foothold in other regulated states and should prove to be popular in Iowa. Also, DraftKings operates retail sportsbooks at three Wild Rose casinos in the state.

William Hill Sportsbook Iowa

UK betting giant, William Hill, was one of the first operators to offer legal Iowa sports betting. Also, it runs retail sportsbooks at Prairie Meadows, Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, and Lakeside Hotel Casino in Osceola.

FanDuel Sportsbook Iowa

FanDuel was late to the party in Iowa, but its legal sportsbook is finally here after opening sportsbooks in six other US states. It’s partnered with Boyd Gaming and provides markets on everything from football to golf, MMA, and soccer.

Elite Casinos

Elite’s online sportsbook was launched in August 2019 and uses the Bet.Works platform. Elite also powers the retail sportsbooks at three Iowa sports betting casinos – Rhythm City Casino, Davenport, Grand Falls Casino, and Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.

Betfred

Betfred USA is the US-facing arm of the British betting giant which has been operating bookmakers in the United Kingdom since the 1960s. They opened their Iowa retail sportsbook at the Grand Falls Casino in January 2020.

Hard Rock Casino Sportsbook

Hard Rock Casino has a foothold in many US states, where it runs similar sports betting operations with software partner GiG. However, as with all Iowa mobile betting apps, you must first register in-person at the Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City.

Q Casino

Using IGT sports betting software, the Q Casino sportsbook was launched in November 2019 in partnership with the Dubuque Q Casino.

How do I sign up for sports betting in Iowa?

Iowa sports betting has followed a similar path to other regulated states with sports betting, such as Illinois, where bettors must register in-person at a licensed casino to open an account. This rule applies until Jan 1, 2021.

To get started, you can pre-register an account at your chosen casino. Visit the online casino site and enter some personal details. Then, visit the retail sportsbook with a valid ID like a passport or driver’s license. You’ll also need your username and account number.

Sports Wagers Allowed in Iowa

Legal Iowa sports betting is all about giving gamblers the widest choice possible. Therefore, there are dozens of possible betting types like parlays, moneyline wagers, and futures.

Moneyline: Back the favorite to win or go for the underdog to cause an upset. You can also get odds on the draw.

Parlay: Combine several wagers in one with a parlay. Increase the overall odds and walk away with an even bigger payout.

Point spread: Give the favorite a handicap or the underdog a point advantage, then bet on the outcome.

Totals: Will the total points be over or under the bookmaker’s prediction? Guess correctly and you win.

Futures: Gaze into your crystal ball and place a sports bet on the winner of the next Super Bowl, US Open, or NBA World Series. Bet months in advance for the best odds.

Teasers: Teasers let you bet on the points spread with even more flexibility. Be in control of the spread and get different odds depending on where your position is.

Round Robin: Top Iowa online gambling apps will let you combine several parlays into one bet. Luckily, the mobile app bet slip will do all the calculations so you don’t have to.

In-Play Betting: In-play bets let you gamble on the action as it happens. Watch the live streams or follow the match tracker and place bets as the odds change in real-time!

Sports to Bet on in Iowa

There is a huge variety of sports to bet on in the state of Iowa. For example, MLB picks and parlays, soccer, hockey, and NFL picks and parlays. But, one thing for sure is you won’t be spoiled for choice.

However, as is the case with other legalized sports betting states, such as Colorado and Illinois, wagering college sports involving teams playing Iowa is prohibited.

For now, novelty bets like US politics are off the list, but Iowan bettors can bet on the following sports:

  • Football
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • College Football
  • College Basketball
  • Hockey
  • Boxing
  • Soccer
  • Golf
  • Cricket
  • Darts
  • Rugby
  • MMA/UFC
  • Tennis
  • Athletics

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to gamble on races through legal sportsbooks. Instead, you can place pari-mutuel racing bets online through approved sites like TVG and TwinSpires.

Horse racing has a long history in Iowa. In fact, Harness racing has been held in the state for over 150 years, and Prairie Meadows runs its own casino and sportsbook alongside its thoroughbred races.

Some pari-mutuel betting is allowed at Prairie Meadows, while simulcast betting is also allowed off-track at Wild Rose Casino & Resort and Meskwaki Bingo Casino-Hotel.

Daily Fantasy Sports Betting

Daily Fantasy Sports contests were legalized around the same time as Iowa sports betting. As a result, some of the best DFS sites have moved into the state, such as FanDuel and DraftKings.

The two operators are the market leaders and deliver a great daily fantasy sports betting platform. If you want to find out more, read our FanDuel vs DraftKings guide to find out which one is best for you.

Online Sportsbooks Coming to Iowa

With some of the major sports betting players already operating in The Hawkeye State, which other sportsbook providers could launch soon?

  • The Stars Group
  • BetMGM
  • Unibet Sportsbook
  • Golden Nugget Sportsbook

Where can I bet on sports in Iowa?

What brick and mortar casinos have a sportsbook in Iowa? Casinos are permitted to offer more than one skin, so some may have deals with another partner.Harrah’s Hotel & Casino Council BluffsWhat brick and mortar casinos have a sportsbook in Iowa? Casinos are permitted to offer more than one skin, so some may have deals with another partner.

Iowa CasinoSports Betting Partner
Ameristar Council BluffsKambi
Catfish Bend CasinoPointsBet
Diamond Jo Casino DubuqueFanDuel
Diamond Jo Casino WorthFanDuel
Grand Falls CasinoELITE/Bet.Works/Betfred
Harrah’s Hotel 7 Casino Council BluffsCaesars/Scientific Games/William Hill
Horseshoe CasinoCaesars/Scientific Games/William Hill
Isle Casino BettendorfCaesars Sportsbook
Isle Casino WaterlooCaesars Sportsbook
Lakeside CasinoCaesars Sportsbook
Prairie Meadows CasinoCaesars Sportsbook & PointsBet
Q CasinoIGT
Rhythm City CasinoELITE & Bet.Works
Riverside CasinoELITE & Bet.Works
Wild Rose CasinosDraftKings & BetRivers

Sports Betting Regulation in Iowa

Iowa became the 11th state in the union to legalize sports betting when it passed SF 617 back in 2019. The new law allows sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) for money. However, Iowans must register in-person at a participating retail sportsbook.

The first brick and mortar sportsbooks opened in August 2019, but revenue stalled for nearly a year due to major players like DraftKings and FanDuel failing to launch their own apps. By September 2020, both DFS giants had launched their own sportsbooks in Iowa.

  • 1993: Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act is passed in Iowa, allowing for betting on horse racing in the state of Iowa
  • 2018: Supreme Court overturns PASPA, opening the way for legal sports betting in the US
  • May 2019: Gov. Kim Reynolds signs SF 617, allowing Iowans aged 21 or over to bet on sports
  • August 2019: Legal sports wagering in Iowa goes live at noon. Prairie Meadows is one of four Iowa casinos to open a retail sportsbook
  • October 2019: Legal Daily Fantasy Sports begin operating
  • February 2020: DraftKings sportsbook launches
  • September 2020: FanDuel sportsbook launches

Iowa Sports Betting FAQ

Is online sports betting legal in Iowa?

Absolutely. You can place bets and enjoy responsible gaming in Iowa via around a dozen mobile sports betting apps.

Does Iowa have sports betting?

Yes. Iowa sports betting was legalized in 2019 and the first mobile and retail sportsbooks went live soon after. You can place real money bets at PayPal betting sites and apps in the state.

Where can I bet on sports in Iowa?

Under current law, you must download a licensed mobile sportsbook and complete the registration in person at a participating brick and mortar casino. You’ll have to be 21 or over to place bets.

How do I bet on sports in Iowa?

Once your account is set up, log in via a mobile app and make a deposit. Choose from over a dozen sports like NBA and NHL and place bets like moneyline, parlays, or props.