Sports betting has been legal in Iowa for almost five years, so you can register with a bookie and wager away. Of course, not any sportsbook will do. Rather, stick to licensed Iowa sportsbooks like Bet365 and get your money’s worth.
If you've been wondering how to be a part of the Iowa sports betting scene, but not sure how to go about it or what it entails, you're in the right place. I put together a specialized Iowa betting handbook, unpacking the best sites, sports, bonuses, payment methods, betting markets, etc. I’ll also touch on legalities, history, pros & cons, and more.
My picks for the best Iowa sports betting sites included top names like Bet365 and BetMGM. However, you’ll also find newer sites with a lot to offer.
You can download any of the following IA betting apps and get a top-tier betting experience. However, I singled out what each of these top sites do better than the competition.
| Category | Operator |
|---|---|
| 💰 Best Sign Up Bonus | Bet365 |
| 📈 Most Competitive Odds | BetRivers |
| 🏈 Biggest Choice of Markets | BetMGM |
| 🤝 Best Loyalty Promos | BetRivers |
| 🎯 Best Same Game Parlay | Caesars |
| 🆕 Newest Sportsbook | Bet365 |
| 📱 Best Mobile App | DraftKings |
| ⏳ Best for Live Betting | BetRivers |
| 💳 Most Trusted Payments | FanDuel |
| 💬 Best Support | DraftKings |
It has been an interesting 5 years in Iowa after the US Supreme Court gave individual states the mandate to regulate sports betting as they saw fit. I’ll walk you through the chain of events from this ruling up until sports betting was made legal:
A lot has transpired in the Iowa sports betting scene in 2024, from epic court cases to the departure of iconic bookies. How about some updates on the most prominent happenings?
Iowa sportsbooks are popping up at every turn as betting in the state continues to gain traction. So, without wasting much time, here are your top bookies and why I think so.
With sports betting on the rise in Iowa, bonuses from sportsbooks are becoming more common than ever. To help you get started, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of top sportsbooks bonus codes in the state.
| Bet365 Bonus Code for Iowa | Caesars Promo Code for Iowa |
| BetMGM Bonus Code for Iowa | DraftKings Promo Codes for Iowa |
| FanDuel Promo Codes for Iowa | Fanatics Iowa Promo Code |
If you’ve already found the bookmaker for you—excellent. If you’re still on the fence, the following Iowa betting sites reviews will give you a better sense of which one will work best for you.
Every expert punter has a favorite bookie, and Bet365 is mine. I regard it as a powerful sports betting brand with one of the best websites in the business. It’s a simple design that I found very easy to navigate. It didn’t take long for me to spot the two magnificent welcome offers, and you get to choose your poison. Is it the First Safety Bonus of up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets you get if you deposit $10? Or do you prefer to Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets? You decide.
Armed with your chosen bonus, you can explore the sports menu that’s packed with more than 40 sports. Of course, the likes of football, basketball, and baseball are a staple at most Iowa betting sites. But I was blown away by the niche selection which includes rowing and surfing.
The good news is you can place live bets on most major sports. As live streaming is a crucial part of the punter’s experience, I’m happy Bet365 allows it on sports like football. You don’t have to struggle to fund your betting account or withdraw funds using several options, including Visa, Mastercard, and bank transfer. Even the popular PayPal is on the lineup and processes payouts in 48 hours. If we’re to talk cons, you can’t reach the Bet365 support team on live chat round the clock but during 6 am and 8 pm EST only. But when they are on the clock, they respond in minutes, so I’m not complaining.
My first impressions logging on to the BetMGM platform scream luxury betting, judging by stunning images against the sleek gold and black aesthetic. The bookie offers leagues for the most popular US sports like football and hockey, with niche sports like biathlon and snooker part of the lineup.
I found the game lines to be fairly competitive when I compared them with other Iowa betting sites. BetMGM provides spreads, moneylines, and over/under odds to sift through for almost every game you could hope for. The bookie also has several futures markets you can check out, and I noticed they’re usually published well in advance compared to other bookmakers.
BetMGM has one of the most intuitive live betting sections I’ve seen available on major sports like basketball. The bookie uses red and green highlights to show if the odds are worsening or improving, so you act fast. Other bookies offer a Bet Builder but BetMGM takes it further by providing pre-made parlays that display the prediction order of game wins. Other equally rewarding features are the Cash Out function, letting you cash out winnings before an event concludes.
BetMGM designs a sleek downloadable app with a cool 4.7-star rating in the App Store featuring the same sports leagues on the desktop. I did find the loading speeds weren’t consistent, often taking about a few seconds to react to a click. Supported payment methods on the site include cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. BetMGM doesn’t take a cut from your winnings. Winner takes all.
25+ sports markets. Generous welcome bonus. Frequent odds-boosts. T&Cs and 21+ apply
FanDuel is also making its mark as one of the best latest sportsbooks in Iowa with its stunning betting platform and responsive mobile app. Let’s not forget the Bet $5, and Get $150 welcome bonus which is as sweet as maple syrup that ushers in new entrants. Joining FanDuel Iowa will have you betting on over 17 sports, from football to cycling.
Punters can place pre-match or live wagers as well as future bets, so you can bet on anything your heart desires. Admittedly, the brand doesn’t have the Iargest selection of sports compared to other bookies but offers unique bets like Same Game Parlays. It helps that the site provides some of the most competitive odds in the industry, especially on major sports like basketball and football. And you know that quality odds mean a decent return if your predictions hit.
FanDuel provides exclusive features that help maximize your betting experience like boosted odds and trending picks. My favorite are the Super Boost bets, where the bookie increases odds on select games. The sportsbook also gives you a head start with handy betting guides if you’re new to the experience.
You can apply to join the rewarding VIP program and enjoy exclusive perks like top-of-the-line customer service. To fund your FanDuel account, you have options like Visa and PayPal. If you run into a roadblock, you can reach the staff via live chat for speedy responses or email for detailed feedback.
Wagering Needed (WR): 1x Deposit. T&Cs and 21+ apply
BetRivers is fast becoming one of the solid Iowa online sportsbooks for legal betting. The brand’s sportsbook is quite something, judging from the generous up to $1, 500 in Bonus Bets promo tailored for new bettors. You’re, however, only privy to this exciting deal if your first wager on the site loses.
BetRivers provides you with over 30 sports to bet on. In addition to popular US leagues like the NFL and NBA, you have plenty of obscure options, too, like darts and cycling. Once you’ve chosen your sport, you can place popular wagers like moneylines, and point spreads or switch things up with teasers and player props.
Like most bookies here, BetRivers offers the lethal combination of live betting and live streaming on select sporting events. But one of the operator’s most unique perks is the Pre-Game Stats providing Iowa punters with further information on teams and bettors so they make the right call.
BetRivers delivers a high-performance mobile app for Android users. There’s nothing for iOS users as yet. If that’s you, you can still access the site directly from your browser, so you’re not entirely out in the cold. Expect to enjoy safe and convenient banking transactions on the site using debit/credit cards, PayNearMe, or bank transfers. Payouts are instant if you use the BetRivers Play + Prepaid card otherwise, you wait 3 to 5 business days with online banking.
DraftKings started as a daily fantasy bookie back in 2018, cementing its position as one of the top DFS bookies on the market. It has since expanded into sports betting and delivers brilliantly with some of the best promos for Iowa punters. Right off the bat, you receive $150 in Bonus bets if you sign up, deposit, and bet $5. But it’s the string of evergreen promos like MLB odds boosts that take the cup.
The bookie also presents unique features to enhance your betting outside of regular live betting and live streaming. You can take advantage of the DraftKings Pools, letting bettors set up their own private pools to wager for fun. The sportsbook is big on community, and has a social media hub called DraftKings social, where like-minded bettors can network.
DraftKings doesn’t have the Iargest selection of sports but includes interesting options like cornhole and Lacrosse. That’s, of course, in addition to mainstays like football and cricket. You’ll enjoy plenty of bet options here, but the bookie specializes in alternate lines, same-game parlay options, and player props.
DraftKings’ list of payment options resembles that of most bookies here, including Visa, PayPal, and the like. For any queries, reach out to the team on the automated live chat platform that runs 24/7. Interactions may start with a chatbot but can escalate to a live agent if necessary.
Multiple betting options. 20+ sports represented. Solid welcome bonus. T&Cs and 21+ apply
Caesars rounds up my list of all Iowa sportsbooks and offers the coveted bonus that ensures your first wager of up to $1,000. You receive the bonus if your first bet on the platform falls through. You have 20+ sports to bet on, such as the usual NFL and NBA, but the bookie also offers competitive odds for other leagues like the WNBA and NCAAB.
As a veteran sportsbook brand, it delivers in areas that matter, starting with the world-class online betting app that boasts incredibly reliable performance. Caesar’s average margins are below 5% whereas most of its peers are between 6 and 10%. The percentages might seem small, but over the long haul, it makes a massive difference.
Deposits on the site are instant, and withdrawals are processed in a few hours if funds are sent to a PayPal account. Naturally, card withdrawals and bank transfers take longer—up to a few days. You can enjoy a host of features that enhance wagering, including live betting, with a particularly impressive depth on prop markets.
Cashouts are also possible if you’d like to be in more control of your betting. Caesars has stood the test of time by offering a responsive customer service experience that’s next to none. You can reach the knowledgeable staff via 24/7 live chat, email, or phone, and they respond swiftly.
Wagering Needed (WR): 1x Deposit. T&Cs and 21+ apply
Newer sportsbooks typically have difficulties competing with the bigger industry names, but ClutchBet has had a brilliant track record in Australia before coming to the US. In Iowa, bettors get some of the deepest market selections for the NFL, NBA, and other major leagues.
Betway may have launched later in Iowa, but the bookie has been around in Europe for decades. As such, it brings a massive coverage of sports events from the rest of the world. US sports aren’t neglected, too, and you can find your usual favorites, like football, baseball, ice hockey, and basketball.
The Sporttrade IA betting app isn’t the most intuitive, but you can work your way around it with a bit of tinkering. The bookie has the unique distinction of allowing bettors to dabble in stock trading. Sticking to betting for a while, you’ll love the ability to deposit and withdraw using Venmo and PayPal.
Betfred may have launched in the US in 2020, but the brand has been around for over five decades. I was surprised to find that Betfred is still as in touch with current trends and customer preferences as the newest sites.
The credibility that comes with the ESPN name immediately made me curious to find whether or not the betting product was good enough here. I must say I wasn’t disappointed, as ESPN BET offers a decent welcome bonus and well-rounded sports selection. There are still some growing pains, though, especially regarding pricing.
Hard Rock isn’t particularly the best site to bet on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. What you get here is deep coverage of smaller leagues of both US sports and things like soccer and cricket as well.
While Bally Bet does everything well, I was particularly impressed with the daily profit boosts. Other things to look forward to are the alternative lines and prop bet options. bettors enjoy all this on user-friendly iOS and Android apps.
Tipico became one of the first brands to pull out of the state of Iowa in July 2024 after their operations were acquired by BetMGM. Previously they had offered a pretty solid product including a good variety of lines and odds.
Elite Sportsbook is a bit bareboned and gets the job done for most basic bets. However, you get a richer betting experience with the likes of FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars. With improvements in the UI and market coverage, Elite will do a lot better. Their futures markets are fairly solid, though.
The Q sportsbook would rarely be in front of your mind for anything other than price shopping. You occasionally get better odds than you get from mainstream bookies. Q Sportsbook has IGT as a technical partner, though, so everything works as it should.
DRF (Daily Racing Form) started out in 1894 as a horse-racing tips newspaper. As you can expect, the betting app has the best coverage of horse races from over 30 states. Apart from this, DRF is much like its competitors. But since it’s still new in most states, the sportsbook may very well improve and become one of the best all-rounders. At the time of writing it’s exclusive to Iowa.
Circa Sports doesn’t offer the most elaborate bonuses or competitive odds. However, the sportsbook prides itself on providing the highest betting limits. The stripped-down UI also helps even the newest bettors find their way to any section of the app.
Unibet came into the US market with a big reputation as an established player in Europe, but things went south relatively quickly for the Scandinavian-based brand in Iowa and elsewhere. The brand had a tough time in many US states and decided to shut down their operations in North America as of the end of June 2024.
The Fubo Sportsbook was a short-lived player in the Iowa sports betting market. Having launched in 2021, the company which rose to fame thanks to their TV product closed down their sportsbook in October 2022. In truth, they never really made a meaningful impression.
theScore has been a popular website for sports lovers to check game scores in real-time. The site transitioned into the betting market, but announced that they would be pulling their American operations to focus on serving customers in their native Canada.
The newest Iowa betting site, Sportrade, launched in April 2024 and is already making an impact. Fanatics launched in February and is also doing very well:
| Sportsbook | Launch Date | Partnering Casino |
|---|---|---|
| Sporttrade | April 2024 | Wild Rose Casino & Hotel |
| Fanatics | February 2024 | Catfish Bend Casino |
It’s legal to bet on nearly any sporting event in the state under the following disciplines:
Here’s a rundown of some of the exact sports and leagues you can wager on in Iowa so you can pick what you love.
Who doesn’t like a punt in the races? From betting once a year on the Triple Crown Races to picking out winners every Saturday at the Kentucky Derby, you can enjoy the thrill of horse racing betting in one way or the other.
Professional football, particularly the NFL, is the biggest league you can bet on in Iowa, whether at old or new sportsbooks. Games are scattered throughout the season on different days, and you can place numerous types including Quarter or Half-time bets. Iowa might not have a major pro football team, but it has the Drake Bulldogs, which competes in popular events like the Football Championship Subdivision.
The NBA is another popular league to wager on in the US, and the best IA sportsbooks cover it. You can go with this option if you have lots of time on your hands, as games are played every single night. Iowa also has college basketball in the bag, boasting stellar teams like the Iowa State Cyclones, who made it to the Elite Eight in 2000.
Even though Iowa doesn’t have an MLB team, punters can place moneyline, runline, and totals on all their favorites. The wager types vary with the MLB sportsbooks you join.
If you’re into hockey betting, best believe that top Iowa bookies will let you bet on major events like the NHL and Stanley Cup. Iowa doesn’t have a team in the NHL but has an AHL team—the Iowa Wild—that’s been playing for over a decade now.
Iowa Iawmakers are relatively Iax on what you can wager on but have a few exceptions. You can’t bet on the following:
After the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, Iowa authorities didn’t waste time legalizing bookmakers. After Montana and Indiana, Iowa was the third state to regularize sports betting. That’s after Governor Reynolds signed Bill SF-617 into Iaw on August 13, 2019, to approve legal sports betting.
Only licensed IA betting sites can offer their services to the public. An initial sports betting license fee of $45,000 is required to obtain one from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The license renewal fee is pegged at $10,000. According to Bill 617, bettors must pay their dues to the taxman. The state levies a 5% tax rate on gambling winnings, which is fairly reasonable.
17 retail sportsbooks are currently running in Iowa. You can find these at one of the 19 licensed physical casinos in the state. Following the legalization of sports betting, initially, punters had to register at one of the 19 licensed physical casinos first to bet. However, as of 2021, they could now register directly at Iowa online betting sites. You don’t necessarily need to be an Iowa resident to gamble in the state. However, you must be physically located within the state’s borders to place wagers online. The sportsbooks use geolocation technology to verify you’re within state borders.
Gambling Problem? Call 855-581-8111 or text 855-895-8398. Visit yourlifeiowa.org/gambling for more information
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★★★ | 10/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Stars | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
Different sportsbook bonuses are available in Iowa, including bonus bets, reloads, referral bonuses, and first-bet insurance. While some bookie promos are fairly simple, others come with complex terms, so you must read the fine print to identify what works for you.
Live betting sites are a great way to get in on the action if the game has already started and you forgot to place your wager.
Yes, online sports betting was legalized in Iowa on August 13. 2019.
Yes, mobile betting is perfectly acceptable in Iowa. Either sign up with a bookie via its mobile website or downloadable app.
Teasers are a lot like parlays, where you combine multiple selections into one bet. The only major difference is the lines are moved in your favor, lowering the risk than in a standard parlay bet.
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