Iowa Sports Betting

Iowa sports betting is riding an upward trajectory in 2022 after exceeding all projections in 2021.

As a result of the strength of the market, sports bettors in Iowa have access to over 15 online sportsbooks. Each Iowa sports betting platform is a bit different, but all offer competitive odds across a wide range of events.

New bettors looking to wager on the NBA Finals or the 2023 NFL Super Bowl winner can do so from anywhere within the state. Bettors who are at least 21 years old and physically located within Iowa state lines can join all licensed sports betting apps. You can simply download your platform of choice, sign up, and make a deposit to start placing bets.

Looking for the best sports betting app? Read on, and we will lay out the advantages that different sportsbooks provide, including all of the promo codes for various welcome offers.

Editors’ Choice: Best Sports Betting App In Iowa By Category October 2022

• DraftKings Iowa: Best for DFS Players
• Caesars Iowa: Best for New Bettors
• BetMGM Iowa: Best for MGM Players
• BetRivers Iowa: Best for 2nd Chance Offer
• Betfred Iowa: Best for Free Bets Bonus
• Unibet Iowa: Best for International Sports Fans
• FanDuel Iowa: Best for iOS and Android App
• PointsBet Iowa: Best for Risky Bettors

Reviews Of Iowa’s 7 Best Sports Betting Apps & Sites

Best Iowa Sportsbook Bonuses

Full List of Iowa Online Sportsbooks

• DraftKings
• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• Betfred Sportsbook
• Unibet
• FanDuel
• PointsBet
• Bally Bet Sportsbook
• Barstool Sportsbook
• Betway Sportsbook
• Circa Sportsbook
• DRF Sportsbook
• Elite Sportsbook
• Fubo Sportsbook
• Hard Rock Sportsbook
• Q Sportsbook
• ClutchBet Sportsbook (coming soon)

Top Retail Sportsbooks in Iowa

Iowa Legal Sportsbooks

Betting at illegal sportsbooks adds unnecessary risk to your personal information and finances. These sites routinely sell their users’ information, refuse to pay winnings, or disappear (with your money) altogether.

Thanks to oversight by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), your personal information and finances are protected when you play at legally licensed sportsbooks.

The Iowa.gov website also offers a great tax resource for bettors, including their policies on automatically withholding winnings of $600 or more (the same for a lottery win). All net winnings from gambling are subject to the 5% state income tax rate as well as the 24% federal income tax rate for a total of 29%.

Iowa Sports Betting Revenue

Iowa’s sports betting handle continues to reflect the slowdown in the sports calendar, taking in $147.9 million in bets in May 2022, down from  $177.4 million in April. After starting the year with a record handle of $303.3 million in January 2022, Iowa sportsbooks numbers have declined. However, Iowa’s numbers still show significant growth year-over-year.

Iowa sports betting totaled over $2 billion last year, up significantly from $575 million in the previous year.

How Iowa Compares To Other States

Compared to its Midwest neighbors Illinois and Indiana, Iowa offers a great sports betting market with a few shortcomings:

• You can’t use a credit card to make a deposit
• You can’t place prop bets on in-state college teams
• You can’t bet on TV competitions like the Oscars

Iowa Versus Indiana

Indiana has the most liberal sports betting laws in the country, even more so than New Jersey or Nevada. For example, Indiana sportsbooks can offer prop bets on in-state college schools. It’s also one of only two states (along with New Jersey) that allows bets on the Oscars and other TV competitions.

However, Indiana expressly prohibits esports betting. Iowa does not, but it is not currently an approved category for betting in the state.

Illinois Versus Iowa

Illinois required in-person registration for online sportsbooks but changed that requirement in March 2022. Illinois bettors no longer need to visit a retail sportsbook to complete their registration process.

Even still, Iowa beats Illinois in two key categories: the ability to bet on in-state college schools, and the pure number of options. While Iowa sports bettors can join at least 12 sports betting apps, Illinois only has six.

In Illinois, you can’t bet on in-state college teams, but you can use a credit card to deposit at a sportsbook.

Iowa Betting Successes And Failures

Iowa Sports Betting Success

Iowans bet over $303 million in January, breaking the monthly record of $287 million set in November. Iowa officially surpassed expectations for sports betting revenue at the end of Fiscal Year 2021, when the IRGC reported $1.22 billion in handle. That translates to over $6 million in taxes for the state. The total handle for FY ‘21 was $1.1 billion, so that’s hugely promising for Iowa’s ongoing sports betting success.

While online sports betting officially launched in Iowa in August 2019, the in-person registration requirement made the state an unenviable market for many operators. With that requirement gone, and each land-based casino able to open three online sportsbooks each, the Iowa market can finally grow to its true potential.

Where Could Iowa Improve Online Gambling

It’s highly unlikely that Iowa will change the law and allow prop bets on in-state college sports or credit card deposits. And the in-person registration requirement is behind us.

However, Iowa could improve its online gambling position by allowing esports bets and TV competitions like the Academy Awards, which could attract bettors from Illinois and elsewhere where those wagers aren’t offered.

Legalization Effort In Iowa

Less than one year after the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, Iowa was one of the first states with legal sports betting.

In April 2019, the Iowa Senate voted in favor of legalized sports betting by wide margins. Support also came from both sides of the aisle, with the majority of democrat and republican lawmakers agreeing to the legality.

Just a few days later, the bill passed the Iowa House, and it received Governor Kim Reynolds’s signature on May 13, 2019. It was officially legal to bet on sports in Iowa.

Important Dates For Iowa Sports Betting

• May 14, 2018: The day after the overturn of PASPA, The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa lawmakers will consider legalizing sports betting in the state.
• April 17, 2019: Senate File 617, an Act legalizing sports betting, passes the Iowa Senate by a margin of 31 to 18.
• May 13, 2019: Governor Kim Reynolds approves Senate File 617, effectively legalizing sports betting in Iowa with the stroke of her pen.
• August 15, 2019: William Hill (now Caesars) opens the first four retail sportsbooks in the state at Prairie Meadows, Lakeside Casino, Isle Casino Bettendorf, and Isle Casino Waterloo. William Hill also becomes the first online sportsbook available in the state.
• January 1, 2021: Iowa’s in-person registration requirement expires, allowing remote registration on any legally-licensed online sportsbook in the state.

Iowa Teams

Iowa Professional Sports Teams

Iowa does not have any major league sports teams. But betting on major league sports—particularly on teams located in nearby states—is highly popular in Iowa, particularly betting on the Super Bowl.

Iowa’s Favorite NFL Teams

It’s safe to say that these are the four most popular NFL teams in Iowa:

• Green Bay Packers
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Chicago Bears
• Minnesota Vikings

All four of these teams inspire tons of wagers from Iowans, and the variety of fans makes for an interesting layout of odds, which are dramatically affected by how many bets are placed.

Iowa’s Favorite MLB Teams

In 2019, SeatGeek released a map that showed the most popular sports teams by county in Iowa. The most popular team was the Kansas City Royals, followed by the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively. 

Iowa’s Favorite NBA Teams

Outside of March Madness, basketball doesn’t inspire as many bets as football or baseball. However, it remains the third most popular sport in the country, and Iowa’s favorite teams include:

• Chicago Bulls
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Milwaukee Bucks

Iowa College Sports Teams

Iowa boasts four college teams that play at the D1 level in football and basketball, the two most popular college sports by far.

However, you can only bet moneyline, spread, or total for in-state college sports. Prop bets are only allowed for out-of-state college teams and professional sports.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The University of Iowa has the most successful D1 athletic program in the state, and it’s often one of the elite teams in the country.

In basketball, the Hawkeyes were ranked among the top 25 teams in the country at the time of this writing. Iowa had a 21-8 overall record and was in position to make another appearance in March Madness.   

In football, the Hawkeyes often rank in the AP Top 25. They won the Big 10’s West division title last year with a conference record of 7-2.

Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State’s football team has improved in recent years. The Cyclones finished with a 7-6 overall record last season. Iowa State dropped a tough 20-13 loss to Clemson in its bowl game. The Cyclones can also hoop it with the best of them, boasting several NCAA Tournament appearances, and making it to the Sweet 16 twice within the past decade.

Northern Iowa Panthers

While the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones reign supreme for most popular college teams, the Northern Iowa Panthers basketball program has been making a name for itself at the national level by appearing in March Madness on multiple occasions in recent years.  

Drake Bulldogs

The Drake Bulldogs basketball team has only made it to the NCAA Tournament four times. But Drake is a strong member of the Missouri Valley Conference, making for some exciting betting action, particularly for point spreads.

Other Sports To Bet On In Iowa

Iowa allows sportsbooks to list a range of sports. You can find bets on auto racing, golf, European soccer, Rugby, and beyond. In fact, you could attend a NASCAR race at Iowa Speedway while betting on the event with your mobile device.

If you’re betting on sports beyond popular college teams or major leagues in the US and Europe, make sure to explore the options before joining a sportsbook. You don’t want to be an MMA-specific bettor only to find out the sportsbook doesn’t offer lines on the fights.

How To Place A Bet In Iowa

Step 1: Find The Right Online Sportsbook

You can safely join and bet at any legally-licensed online sportsbook in the state. You can find a complete list of available sites and apps in the list table, including the welcome bonus offer for each option.

Step 2: Register Remotely

As of January 1, 2021, you can register at any of Iowa’s online sportsbooks from anywhere. That includes outside of the state, but you must be physically inside the State of Iowa to wager.

Registration is similar to opening a bank account in terms of the information you need to provide. This includes your name, DOB, address, and phone number as well as a unique password for your account.

Step 3: Make A Deposit

You may need to provide a promo code during the signup process or while you make a deposit, so make sure you have TODAY copied for the BetMGM Iowa deposit bonus or BONUSDAY for the two second chance free bets up to $2,000 from PointsBet Iowa.

In accordance with state law, Iowa sportsbooks cannot accept credit cards as a deposit method. That means a more limited number of options in the state, but most accept debit cards for deposits as well as PayPal and online banking for both deposits and cashing out.

Step 4: Place A Bet

Once you have money in your account, you can place any bet offered by the sportsbook. You can find a diverse selection of odds for the same event across the different sportsbooks, so it’s a good idea to compare beforehand.

IMPORTANT: Risk-free bets usually apply to the first wager only. It’s also important to read all terms and conditions before participating in any promotion. Things to look for are minimum odds, time limits, and how the betting credits are refunded if the wager loses.

NFL Betting In Iowa

The 2022-23 NFL Season will bring a wide range of betting opportunities across all Iowa sportsbook apps. These include limited-time promotions like parlay profit boosts, risk-free wagers, and special prop bets.

Iowa bettors with their eye on NFL offers should regularly check two areas of their sportsbooks of choice:

• Promotions Page: Check the ongoing promotions on a weekly basis to opt-in for the offers that appeal to you. You won’t always find something you’re interested in, but you’ll also never miss out on an offer that fits your style of betting.
• Odds Boosters: Every online sportsbook has a separate section for specialty bets. At BetRivers, they’re housed in “House Specials.” At FanDuel, they’re labeled “Boosts.”

It’s also a good idea to join multiple sports betting apps in Iowa to ensure you’re always getting the best odds. While the sportsbooks will have a similar number of NFL betting options, the odds can vary significantly when it comes to specific lines.

Iowa Sports Betting FAQs

More Resources On Iowa Sports Betting

• Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), in charge of gambling regulations in the state, offers a robust resource for sports bettors and gambling operators alike.
• Monthly Gaming Revenue reports from the IRGC. 
• Senate File 617, the legislation that legalized sports betting.
• Iowa sports betting rules and regulations that are enforced by the IRGC.
• A historical snapshot of Iowa sports betting talks immediately after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA, courtesy of The Des Moines Register. 
• Des Moines Register Sports offers the latest news on Iowa college and high school sports as well as coverage on other sports.
• Sports news from The Gazette offers insights that extend beyond Cedar Rapids.
• Hawkeye Sports is a University of Iowa publication with up-to-the-minute coverage on all programs. 
• Fight for Iowa is the official podcast of University of Iowa athletics.