Iowa Sports Betting Guide
Your definitive guide to sports betting in Iowa. In this Iowa sports betting guide, we cover everything you need to know about legal sports betting in the Hawkeye State.
Within this Iowa state sports betting guide, we take a look through all of the need to know information around legal online sports betting. We go through everything from is it legal to wager on sports in Iowa, to where, and how you can do so, the best sportsbooks available in-state, and the best offers to get you up and running. We have full sportsbook reviews for each of the top online bookmakers in the state of Iowa, in which we dive deep into the sports they cover, the deposit and withdrawal methods, the mobile apps, and more. So be sure that everything you need to know about online sports betting in Iowa, is right here.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Iowa?
Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of Iowa and has been since August 2019, but Jan 1st, 2021 has seen significant changes in-state. The Hawkeye State legalized sports wagering in May 2019 after passing state legislation. Retail and online sports betting then went live just 3 months later in August 2019. Until the 1st of Jan 2021 players had to visit one of the casinos that are attached to the online sportsbooks to verify their identity and complete the registration process in person to wager on sports online. Since Jan 1st, 2021 players can now register for an online sportsbook account from anywhere within the state.
How Did Iowa Sports Betting Become Legal?
Sports betting became legal in Iowa just like other states that have moved to legalize sports, by first passing state legislation, before going live with sports betting. Iowa passed state legislation in May 2019 before going live in August 2019. Since 1st of Jan 2019 players have now been able to register online for a sports betting account, where previously they’d have to register in person at an affiliated casino in the state.
Where Can I Bet On Sports In Iowa?
Sports bettors in Iowa have plenty of choices in where to wager both online and in-person. Currently, there are 9 online Iowa sportsbooks, with a 10th in Unibet expected in the coming months and all 19 commercial casinos across the state now also have retail sportsbooks for in-person wagering.
The nine current online sportsbooks available in Iowa are as follows
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- William Hill
- BetRivers
- Elite Sportsbook
- Q Sportsbook
- PointsBet
- Hard Rock Sportsbook
The 19 casinos in Iowa offering sports wagering are as follows
- Isle Bettendorf
- Isle Waterloo
- Lakeside
- Prairie Meadows
- Grand Falls
- Rhythm City
- Riverside
- Q Casino
- Catfish Bend
- Hard Rock Sioux City
- Wild Rose – Clinton
- Wild Rose – Jefferson
- Wild Rose – Emmetsburg
- Ameristar
- Harrah’s Council Bluff
- Horseshoe Casino
- Diamond Jo
- Diamond Jo – Worth
- Casino Queen Marquette
Best Online Iowa Sports Betting Sites?
One of the biggest bonuses of being a sports bettor in Iowa is the number of sportsbooks you can wager with, and all of the big players have opened in the state. Choice and variety are huge benefits when wagering sports as each sportsbook is in direct competition with one another and regularly offers competitive odds, specials, price boosts, and great promo codes for new customers. With this players in Iowa can make the most of these bonuses while shopping the odds and lines to make sure you’re wagering with the best odds.
So who are the best sportsbooks in Iowa? With 10 to choose from, which sportsbooks do we at Pickswise have in our top-5 and who do we rate as the best online sports betting site for Iowans to use. Check out our top-5 and overall best sportsbook below.
Our Top-5 Iowa Sportsbooks
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- William Hill
Overall Best Iowa Sportsbook: DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is a name known to most due to their industry-leading Daily Fantasy Sports product and they’ve made similar waves in the world of online sports since opening.
There are a lot of similarities between sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports contests and those who like to bet on sports will fill a large portion of those who like to play fantasy sports contests.
With the similarities and experience brought across from DraftKings’ DFS product, which you can link to your sportsbook account, DraftKings Sportsbook hit the ground running and offers one of the best places to safely and legally wager on sports in Iowa.
DraftKings has a sleek and easy to navigate interface, one that largely mirrors their fantasy product, so users will find the switch seamless allowing quick and easy sports wagering.
has long been a leading provider of Daily Fantasy Sports contests and has put their experience to good use in leading the charge into the online sports gambling industry.
Draftkings Sportsbook are known for their market and sports variety with most major domestic and international action covered and you’ll regularly find odds boosts, money back offers, and a range of promotions alongside their already competitive odds.
DraftKings comes out top on our list of place to wager on sports in Iowa, and for a more in-depth view of why, check out our full DraftKings Sportsbook review
Best Iowa Mobile Betting Apps?
One of the best aspects of Iowa’s move to fully mobile sports betting and allowing the user to register online is convenience. Mobile apps are also great modes of convenience, bringing the sportsbook to your hand allowing you to quickly and easily place a sports wager within the state. Sportsbooks understand that accessibilities and ease of use, along with security are high priorities for sports bettors and heavily invest time and money into their sportsbook apps, which they roll out across multiple states. While most of the above are minimum requirements for apps, some still do it better than others, but often the differences are minuscule and more a personal preference. Our expert handicappers are akin to using mobile sportsbook apps and have listed their top-5 Iowa sportsbook apps, and which one comes out on top, below.
Here Are Our Top-5 Iowa Sports Betting Apps.
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- William Hill
- PointsBet
Overall Best Iowa Sportsbook App: DraftKings Sportsbook
A fast and easy to use mobile app is a key function and often a deciding factor for online sports bettors. With this in mind, sportsbooks put a lot of resources into ensuring their app is easy to use and any bugs or fixes are made as quickly as possible.
DraftKings’ Sportsbook app is available to both iOS and Android players and offers an identical product to the webpage with all the same features, functionalities, sports including Live Betting and streaming all at the tap of a button.
You can deposit and withdraw funds without leaving the DraftKings app, so it’s a one-stop shop for all things sports betting at DraftKings from registration right through to placing bets and withdrawing winnings.
The Draftkings App is very similar to the online site, and that’s a positive. With years of user experience with their Daily Fantasy Sports products, they offer a great easy to use app that encompasses everything you’d want from your No.1 Sportsbook including promotions, offers, and streaming.
How To Bet Sports Online In Iowa?
Betting sports online in Iowa is a lot easier than you may expect if you’re new to sports betting. It’s a simple process and the majority of online sports betting sites follow the same route from signup through to placing a bet, so you’ll be able to work them all with no issues.
- First, you must register for an online sports betting account which you can now do online in Iowa since the changes to registration on January 1st, 2021 with one of the sportsbooks licensed in the state of Iowa For a full list of places where you can bet online in Iowa, check out the ‘Where can I bet sports in Iowa’ section above.
Before registering, be sure to check out our online sportsbook reviews, which include all of the sports and markets each sportsbook offers, along with information like the deposit and withdrawal options, a look at their mobile app, and everything you need to find the best sportsbook for you. Also, take a look at our bonuses page where we list the best promo codes and offers made available to new customers in Iowa. - Once registered, you will need to add funds to your sportsbook account. Each sportsbook has different accepted deposit methods and can be found on the sportsbooks’ website and mobile app. To deposit, click on your account, choose your deposit method, and add the amount you wish to credit your account with. The funds will typically be available right away.
- The majority of sportsbooks will have a list at the top of the page featuring the most popular sports and markets, and a panel on the left with a more comprehensive list of sports. Use these navigation bars to find the sport you want to wager on.
- Once you find the sport, find an upcoming event or a list of leagues or countries, depending on the sport. Once you locate the event, click on the match to display the markets and odds available for that game.
- Click the selection you wish to wager on to add it to your bet slip, here you can add the amount you wish to wager, or bet type such as parlays if you add multiple selections to the bet slip. The bet slip will automatically calculate your potential winnings once you add a stake, then simply hit place bet to lock in your picks.
Can You Bet On Sports In Iowa?
Yes, you have been able to legally bet on sports in Iowa since August 2019, following the passing of the state legislature three months earlier in May 2019. You have been able to bet online in Iowa since then, but the 1st of January 2021 saw a change in how accessible online sports betting is in the Hawkeye State. Initially, to wager on sports on mobile you would have to register for an online account with one of the sportsbooks at their affiliated casino retail location, before accessing the sportsbook online. Since January 1st Iowans can now register for an account online and begin wagering right away.