Iowa became the 11th U.S. state to legalize sports betting in October 2019. Iowa bettors can choose from a number of the top sportsbook apps in the country, including Bet365, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Find our picks for the best available apps below.
Iowa bettors must be 21+ and present to place wagers in the state. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 1-800-BETS-OFF or visit Your Life Iowa https://yourlifeiowa.org/gambling
Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa! Online sports betting has risen in popularity by leaps and bounds within the Hawkeye State. We identify the best overall sportsbook by feature in the table found below. This will help you quickly find the best Iowa sports betting apps.
Feature | Winner | Why it's Our Pick |
---|---|---|
Best for Beginners | ⭐️ FanDuel | FanDuel has made a major splash in the US online sports betting market and they have created a state-of-the-art app. Folks in Iowa will love the app's user-friendliness, speed, and functionality. |
Best Overall Sportsbook | ⭐️ Bet365 | Bet365 is making a big splash in the state of Iowa. Right now, new bettors in Iowa can get a Bet $5, Get $150 deal with Bet365. |
Best Promo | ⭐️ DraftKings | DraftKings spares no expense when it comes to promos, and right now they're offering a Bet $5, Get $150 deal. Nobody has more prop options than DraftKings and Iowa bettors already love them! |
Best Rewards Program | ⭐️ Caesars | Caesars has the best online sports betting rewards program in Iowa. Each member has access to Caesars Rewards, which is one of the premier rewards programs in the country! |
Best New Sportsbook | ⭐️ BetFred Sportsbook | BetFred is one of the largest sportsbook operators in the U.S. and one of the newest sportsbooks in Iowa. New players will love their daily odds boosts. |
Iowa became the 11th US state to legalize sports betting on August 15, 2019. As we have seen with several other states, Iowa gave their casinos and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks a head start against mobile and online books. It was not until January 1st, 2021 (18 months after legalizing sports betting) that the first online sportsbooks were able to accept wagers.
The key to driving online sports betting revenue and total handle size in any state is remote registration. This is particularly true for a state as rural as Iowa. Many residents are not able or willing to travel to one of the state's 19 casinos to place wagers. As you will see when we break down the state's total handle, the Iowa sports betting market exploded once remote registration began in 2021. This just proved that sports wagering in Iowa is here to stay!
Today, anyone within Iowa state lines can open an account and place a wager with 14 different online sportsbooks.
Sports betting has taken off in Iowa and is now bigger than ever. With serious fan bases like the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones, sports betting in Iowa should only expand from here on out. Let's take a look at some fast facts about sports betting in the Hawkeye State. The following sheet is a good overall snapshot of the Iowa sports betting market.
✅ Launch Date | August 15, 2019 |
📅 Legal Betting Age | 21 |
🏬 Number of Retail Sportsbooks | 15 |
📱 Number of Online Sportsbooks | 14 |
💰 Total Iowa Handle (2023) | $2.42 Billion |
📈 Total Iowa Handle (All Time) | $7.54 Billion |
💸 Largest Sportsbook Handle | DraftKings |
Our pick for the best sports betting app in Iowa is Bet365 Sportsbook. Bet365 has been one of the biggest sports betting brands in the UK for quite some time. Here are a couple of the reasons why we are so high on the Bet365 app:
Generous Bonus Offer for 1st Time Players- Bet365 rewards new customers better than any other sportsbook in the state of Iowa! When you deposit for the first time at Bet365, you'll get a Bet $5, Get $150 deal. This is paid out in bonus bets.
24/7 Customer Support Department- Bet365 prides itself on having one of the best customer service teams in the sports betting business. The live chat function works seamlessly whether you are on the app or the website. The customer service team also answers questions via email and will often respond in less than 24 hours.
Futures Betting Options- We also have to give Bet365 high marks for its expansive futures bets offering. They give out a diverse set of future odds for every sport. Have a gut feeling that the Iowa Hawkeyes will win the Big 10 Championship Game? Bet365 will give you excellent odds on wagers like that!
The best Iowa sportsbook for promotions is DraftKings Sportsbook. Right now, new DK bettors can get $150 in bonus bets after placing their first $5 wager. How cool is that?
At DraftKings, they pride themselves on offering a lot of player props! Iowa sports bettors can bet on their favorite football player to score a touchdown or go over a certain amount of yards in their next game. Hardcore NFL fans can wager on whether their favorite running back will get over or under a certain number of yards. These are just two of the many player prop options that DraftKings offers Iowa sports bettors.
Another reason to give DraftKings a shot is their incredible mobile sports betting app. The app is also fast, never has those annoying lag spells, and allows most folks to place wagers within a matter of mere seconds. It's so incredible that we list it as #1 when compared to all Iowa sports betting apps.
Legal sports betting in Iowa is only growing stronger with each passing year because of the popularity of college sports in the state. New players quickly realize that DraftKings is one of the best sports betting apps in the state! Sign up today because you will not be disappointed.
BetFred recently completed a successful launch in the great state of Iowa! The brand may be new to the US sports betting scene, but they've been a major player in Europe for more than a decade
BetFred knows how to take good care of gamblers because their company was built on doing just that. Sports betting has taken off in Iowa and players are already giving the BetFred app some nice reviews on both Apple and Google Play.
Folks will also be pleased with some of the reduced juice offerings that BetFred provides. On some select games, BetFred makes the juice -107 instead of the standard -110. That may not sound like a big deal, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a season.
BetFred also has plenty of customer support options to assist with questions and issues. There is not a phone number to call yet, but that will probably be added in the near future. For now, BetFred offers quick responses via Live Chat and Email. If you're a sports bettor living in Iowa, we recommend giving BetFred a shot!
FanDuel is a major player in the sports betting industry and bettors in Iowa are loving their incredible bonuses. Right now, new players can get a Bet $5, Get $150 if their first bet wins! The offer can be used on any sport, and so can the bonus bets you receive.
New sports bettors will especially love how well laid out the FanDuel mobile app is. Each sport can be found with ease and FanDuel makes it easy to keep up with your pending bets.
FanDuel also does daily odds boosts, and they are very generous with those as well. For example, right now, if you click on the FanDuel Boosts tab, you can choose from a variety of bets that have had their payouts boosted. This puts more money in your pocket, which is never a bad thing in sports betting!
Folks in the Hawkeye State will be pleased to know that BetMGM has brought back one of its most popular signup bonuses. To celebrate the start of the new NFL season, new Iowa sports bettors can get a $1,500 Second Chance Bet.
This is a great bonus in the state because if your bet loses, you'll get Bonus Bets to cover the loss. Simply register for an account, deposit at least $10, and place your first wager of at least $10.
As far as rewards programs go, it's hard to beat Caesars! Each person who signs up for a Caesars account in Iowa automatically gets access to Caesars Rewards, which is one of the best in the industry.
The Caesars Rewards program has 10 tiers plus an Elite Tier that is by invite only. How good are the perks? Let's just say they're pretty amazing!
The prizes go from exclusive Caesars clothing to VIP birthday gifts. Higher-level members can free hotel stays or bonus bets.
Iowa's sports betting legislation received high praise from US operators for being one of the more sportsbook-friendly markets in the US. The state also kept things extremely straightforward for bettors by electing not to ban any specific sport.
The only wager restrictions in place in Iowa are on live betting and player props for in-state collegiate teams. This means you will be able to wager on Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball, but player props and live betting will not be available for either team.
The state's 6.75% tax rate is amongst the lowest in the United States. Furthermore, the $45,000 license fee with $10,000 annual renewal fee are both drops in the bucket when compared to other state requirements. Bettors in the state can find the entire list of regulations on the IRGC website.
The state saw a rapid influx of books thanks to this legislation. There are already 14 online and mobile sportsbooks operating in the state of Iowa.
The most recent sportsbook to launch in Iowa was BetFred . Iowa bettors should check out the current BetFred offers and consider shopping lines at their book as they consistently offer some of the lowest juice in the US sports betting market.
Online Iowa sportsbooks must partner with one of the state's 19 established casinos in order to operate in the state. Each casino is able to partner with up to two mobile online books, which would allow for up to 38 total operators in the state.
The table below runs down each of the casino/sportsbook partnerships in the state as of this June.
Online Book | Casino Partner | Launch Date |
---|---|---|
BetMGM | Diamond Jo | August 2019 |
BetRivers | Wild Rose | January 2021 |
Caesars | Isle Bettendorf | August 2019 |
Caesars | Isle Waterloo | August 2019 |
Caesars | Lakeside | August 2019 |
Caesars | Praire Meadows | August 2019 |
DraftKings Sportsbook | Wild Rose: Clinton | October 2019 |
DraftKings Sportsbook | Wild Rose: Jefferson | October 2019 |
DraftKings Sportsbook | Wild Rose: Emmetsburg | October 2019 |
Elite Sportsbook | Grand Falls | August 2019 |
Elite Sportsbook | Rhythm City | August 2019 |
Elite Sportsbook | Riverside | August 2019 |
FanDuel Sportsbook | Blue Chip Casino | October 2019 |
Hard Rock Sportsbook | Hard Rock Sioux City | September 2019 |
PointsBet | Catfish Bend | August 2019 |
Q Casino | Q Sportsbook | August 2019 |
theScore Bet | Ameristar | August 2019 |
Unibet | Harrah's Council Bluff | August 2019 |
Unibet | Horseshoe Casino | August 2019 |
As we see in the above list, folks in the Hawkeye State have a ton of options when it comes to retail sports betting. Here is a little bit more info on each brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Iowa. If you need a retail sportsbook for a weekend getaway, any of the following would be a great fit.
DraftKings has deals in place with all three of these locations and they do a phenomenal job of running these sportsbooks. All of the betting kiosks at these casinos are provided by DraftKings. However, Wild Rose also has partnership deals with BetRivers and Circa Sports.
FanDuel runs both of these sportsbook locations and as usual they do a terrific job. The Dubuque site is 2,150 square feet and has 4 betting windows and 9 kiosks. The Worth location is open anywhere from 13 to 16 hours a day.
Caesars has a strong footprint in Iowa and they operate both of these sportsbooks. The Waterloo sportsbook is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bettendorf sportsbook is open daily for 10 to 11 hours.
This 85,000-square-foot casino is gorgeous and offers a sportsbook and racebook that is run by Caesars, plenty of slots and table games, and four unbelievably tasty restaurants.
Address: 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona, IA 50009
Lakeside is home to the new DRF Sportsbook, which has been fully renovated and has one of the largest video walls in Iowa. The book is open each day for anywhere from 8 to 11 hours.
Address: 777 Casino Drive, Osceola, IA 50213
PointsBet, one of our highest-rated sportsbooks, runs this location in Burlington. This sportsbook is brand new and gives its customers a first-class experience.
Address: 3001 Winegard Dr., Burlington, IA 52601
BetFred, one of the newest sportsbooks in the US, has partnered with Grand Falls to run this exquisite 3,500-square-foot location. This site features tons of HD TVs and an LED video wall to keep up with all the action.
Address: 1415 Grand Falls Blvd. Larchwood, IA 51241
Elite Sportsbook runs the betting operations inside the Draft Day Sports Lounge, which features a TopGolf Swing Suite, slot machines, and oversized recliners to watch your action.
Address: 3184 Hwy 22, Riverside, IA 52327
Elite Sportsbook also operates this location, which has recently added 18 new HD TVs for your viewing pleasure. Folks in Davenport are incredibly fond of the Draft Day Sports Lounge's build-your-own mac & cheese.
Address: 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
Hard Rock recently opened up a sportsbook at this location. It's only open 6 hours a day on weekdays, but it has extended hours on Saturday and Sunday. This is a solid choice if you happen to be near Sioux City.
Address: 111 3rd St. Sioux City, IA 51101
Q Casino has an outstanding sportsbook that features 47 TVs and 20 beers on tap! The betting windows are open from 4 pm to 9 pm Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday hours are 11 am to 9 pm.
Address: 1855 Greyhound Park Rd. Dubuque, IA 52001
Ameristar offers 4 restaurants, a sportsbook run by Barstool, and a plethora of table games. There also have over 1,500 slot machines.
Address: 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
This Harrah's casino has three incredible restaurants, a sportsbook run by Caesars, and all of the usual slots and table games. There are no betting windows at this sportsbook, only betting kiosks.
Address: One Harrahs Blvd. Council Bluffs, IA 51501
In 2019, Iowa legalized sports betting, opening up a range of sportsbook options for bettors in the state. With so many sportsbooks to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you - especially if you're new to betting.
With this in mind, our staff has taken the time to review each and every sportsbook in Iowa. Read on below for details about each sportsbook, including its launch date, current bonus offers available in Iowa, and much more. We hope that this comprehensive list will make it easier for you to find the right match.
2022 Betting Handle Tops $2.3 Billion in Iowa- Hawkeyes and Cyclones fans had no trouble placing sports bets in 2022, as both handle and gross revenue ($165 million) reached record numbers
2023 Barely Beats Out 2022 in Handle - Iowa took in $2.42 billion in sports bets during 2024. That narrowly beat out 2022's figures but still added $13.4 million in taxes to the state's coffers.
Caesars Claims Top Spot in Iowa- While FanDuel and DraftKings rule most markets, Caesars is the top dog in Iowa as far as overall sports betting handle. Caesars is one of the larger names in the industry and they offer 4 retail betting locations in the Hawkeye State.
Thanks to one of the most competitive sports betting markets in the country, Iowa residents have their choice between a wide variety of promotions this June. With mobile betting launching in Iowa around 4 years ago, the 14 online sportsbooks in the state are still scrambling to acquire players and establish a market share.
This is good news for IA residents as it creates a competitive market with great sports betting bonus opportunities.
As many Iowa bettors are aware, new promotions have already started appearing. These bonus offers will undoubtedly top what sportsbooks are currently offering.
Our top-rated offers for the state include Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets from DraftKings and a Bet $5, Get $150 deal from Bet365. You can find every IA sportsbook offer at the top of this page and find the details for our featured promotions below.
Since Iowa sports betting law made online sports betting sites legal, sports fans are free to sign up and start placing online bets. If you're worried that the process will be a drag, let us put your mind at ease. Signing up for a sports betting account in Iowa couldn't be any simpler. Just follow these simple steps:
IA only. 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF.
IA only. 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF.
Sports betting is alive and well in Iowa, with the state's first legal bets being placed in 2021. As is the case with all new US betting markets, a new state means hundreds of thousands of first-time sports bettors. If you're betting in Iowa for the first time, we hope this section will be a huge help to you.
If you are not familiar with how online sports betting works, or with the rules that apply to both IA sports bettors and sportsbooks, the FAQs below should help. Feel free to contact our staff if you have a question that is not addressed below. Our goal is to help you choose the right online sportsbook in Iowa.
Yes, sports betting is legal and regulated in the state of Iowa. The first wager was placed in January of 2021 and today there are over 14 sportsbooks operating in IA. Since sports betting went legal, the industry has taken off, and Iowa residents now have several options for where to place wagers.
Yes, Iowa sports bettors can bet online and in-app with the sportsbook of their choice. Live betting, player props, future bets, and more can all be placed using your phone.
Yes, there are now 15 different retail sportsbooks in the Hawkeye State.
This was a major concern in Iowa because college football is king in this state. We have seen several US betting markets elect to not allow wagers on in-state colleges and universities. However, Iowa elected to allow college sports and all major professional sports. The only exception is in-play or live betting during collegiate events.
The legal sports betting age in Iowa is 21. This matches every US state that has legalized sports betting since 2018. You must be 21 to gamble anywhere in Iowa, including the lottery and horse racing.
Yes, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes or the Iowa State Cyclones can bet on their favorite teams within state lines because college sports betting in Iowa is legal. However, the bets must be pregame wagers, as live betting on college sports is not allowed.
Currently, we have Bet365 rated as the best sportsbook in Iowa. This comes down to a few factors. First, the app and website are at the top of the industry, alongside FanDuel and DraftKings. Second, the juice on Bet365 is consistently lower than both FanDuel and DraftKings. Lastly, their new player offers are easily the best in the US sports betting market.
The best bonus in IA is currently the DraftKings Bet $5, Get $150 deal. This is an incredible offer for new and experienced sports bettors, only available in Iowa.
Unfortunately, no. You can only use one bonus code per sportsbook in Iowa. Don't forget to add the bonus code when you're registering; otherwise, you won't be able to get the bonus.
Yes, visitors of IA are eligible to join any sportsbook operating within the state's borders. You must meet the age requirement of 21 and provide proof of identity. Once these are verified, you can place wagers just like any other resident in Iowa.
You can collect your winnings through various methods that the sportsbooks offer. The most popular are e-wallet, bank transfer, and check by mail. Be sure to read the withdrawal terms of each sportsbook, as there may be different limits on how much you can withdraw at one time.
Yes, you can share promo codes with your friends. This is a great way to maximize the value of your bonus and allow them to experience sports betting in Iowa.
Yes, all legal sportsbooks in IA are highly regulated by the state government. All sites have the latest encryption technology, responsible gambling measures, and robust customer service support. This is why we discourage betting at off-shore sites since you can't be sure of the safety and security of your funds.
Chris Lollis is a sports betting expert that has covered the industry for more than a decade. Over that time he has covered everything from the repeal of PASPA to the state-by-state legislative changes. Chris serves as the Head of Content at EatWatchBet, and is responsible for tracking latest news and updates from every U.S. sportsbook.