Iowa represents one of the better-developed online sports betting markets in the US. Options are abundant, both for avid and casual punters, as the state was one of the first to legalize sports betting after the overturn of the federal ban on betting in 2018.
You can bet on any sport you want, but leave choosing the best online sportsbooks to us. We will walk you through the legal and secure Iowa sports betting sites, their bonuses, and more.
We have a very scrupulous approach when reviewing and grading betting sites. An operator must meet a set of criteria to be included in our lists of suggestions. Here is roughly what our reviewing process encompasses:
Reputation and trustworthiness: We prioritize sites with a proven track record of ensuring a seamless betting experience for Iowa punters. Our experts consider its reputation among already-registered players to be a key criterion.
Security measures: Robust security measures such as SSL encryption protocols are a necessity for every Iowa betting site we look at. Those security features will guarantee that all personal and banking information you provide is well protected.
Promotions: IA betting sites use bonuses as one of their main marketing tools for attracting new punters and retaining the existing ones. Therefore, we carefully examine the bonuses and their T&Cs.
Betting markets: Since there are numerous sports that Iowa punters prefer to bet on, a rich list of betting markets is a must. That way, all sports bettors will be guaranteed a thrilling and potentially rewarding online betting experience.
Iowa Sports Betting Laws and Regulations
After the US Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting ban in 2018, Iowa quickly legalized sports betting. At first, punters had to register at one of the licensed land-based casinos in the state before being able to place bets.
However, all that changed in 2022 when Governor Kim Reynolds signed the amended HF 2497, a turning point in the state regarding online betting. With it, online betting became completely legal through a licensed casino, and must pay an additional sports betting license fee.
Online and mobile app betting in Iowa is allowed only for interstate bets, so you must be physically present to gamble at any domestic bookmakers. Moreover, all betting operators in Iowa must offer patrons secure password-protected features across web portals and apps.
In summary, is sports betting legal in Iowa? Yes, it is. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission oversees all forms of gambling, including online betting on sports. To register and place real money online bets, you must be at least 21, as with all legal online gambling markets in the US.
Iowa Sports Betting Taxes
Before you start your sports betting activity in Iowa, you must know that gambling winnings are fully taxable, even if you are not an Iowa resident. The generated sports betting winnings are subject to a 5% income tax and a 24% withholding rate for federal tax purposes.
However, note that the income tax from your winnings may not satisfy your personal Iowa tax obligations. Depending on your income, you may need to file an income tax return and pay more than what was withheld. Only by completing this income tax return can you determine the total amount of tax to return.
Bonuses on Iowa Sports Betting Sites
Operators with decent Iowa sports betting promos will always be near the top of our list of suggestions. Claiming the right bonuses will provide you with better value for your real money bets, as they will increase your bankroll to play with and, theoretically, give you better chances of securing a profit.
One of the best things about the Iowa sports betting market is that every operator is free to use their imagination when crafting bonuses. As such, you can claim various rewarding offers, but let’s list the most common ones.
Welcome Offers
As the name itself suggests, the welcome bonus is available to all newly registered punters who have completed the registration process and made their first deposit. A first deposit match bonus or a free bet offer is the most widespread welcome offer in Iowa.
Risk-Free Bets
They usually follow the welcome bonus and they give you a second chance to win if you haven’t succeeded with the first deposit bonus. Also referred to as second chance bets, these types of promotions will allow you to reimburse your losing wagers by getting free money to bet.
Deposit Match Bonuses
Sometimes named reload bonuses, deposit match offers will add bonus money to your deposit when you top up your account on specific days of the week/month. These bonuses are valid for a few days only, so you will have limited time to complete the wagering requirements.
No-Deposit Bonuses
Bettors in Iowa love no-deposit bonuses as they allow them to place bets without touching their real money balance. One commonly featured type of a no-deposit bonus is a free bet offer, with the cashback incentive also being common in the Iowa sports betting landscape.
Loyalty Programs
Continuous loyalty at Iowa sportsbooks has its own perks. All top Iowa betting sites have a loyalty scheme, which usually sees you climb levels by satisfying a minimum betting criterion. Various rewards and personalized bonuses will await you with each new level.
Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Iowa
Unfortunately, there are no major pro sports teams originating in Iowa, but the state is surrounded by other top-class Midwestern teams. As such, loyalties are pretty scattered in Iowa, so IA sportsbooks offer many betting markets for each major sport. Here are just some of the featured ones:
Football
If you are a fan of NFL betting, the first thing you’ll notice at Iowa sportsbooks is the variety of markets and bets available. Some of the most popular ones you can use on the likes of Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings include:
Moneyline bets: The most straightforward bet you can place on NFL games sees you back a certain team to win the game.
Point spread: Another common bet in the NFL—the point spread means that you need to bet on the margin of victory.
Totals: If you can’t decide which team to back, you can always turn to the totals or over/under market. It solely focuses on the combined score at the final whistle, regardless of which team wins.
Futures: As the name suggests, futures see you place longer-term bets, such as who wins the Super Bowl, the AFC, and the NFC.
Basketball
As with all major events on Iowa sports betting sites, there are many ways to bet on basketball tournaments, especially NBA games. Of course, the most popular ones include the moneyline, point spread, and totals.
Nonetheless, once you get comfortable and familiar with NBA betting, you will feel more confident with advanced bet types such as prop bets—rebounds, assists, points, and other player- or team-specific bets.
Baseball
Generally, IA online sports betting sites offer three major types of bets to place on MLB games: moneyline, run line, and totals (over/under). They are very similar to their counterpart bets in other sports, but there are also some differences.
For example, run line bets work the same as point spreads, hence the terminology. The spread here is the run line since MLB teams score runs instead of points. As is the case with other sports here, prop bets will allow you to bet on specific events during a game, such as whether a player hits a home run in the game.
Hockey
There is no winning strategy for NFL games at Iowa sportsbooks. Still, knowing the possible markets is crucial to determining how you can better construct your wagers. As a result, you can place a variety of bet types, including:
Puck line: The same as point spread in other sports.
Prop bets: Allow you to bet on minor outcomes such as which skater will score, the number of goals a starting goalie will let in, etc.
Parlay bets: You can combine multiple events in the same bet slip, which is usually riskier but can produce higher returns
Of course, the standard moneyline, total, as well as various live betting markets are at your disposal for NHL games.
College Sports
Iowa is home to numerous college teams in various sports, such as the Drake Bulldogs, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and Northern Iowa Panthers, but your betting options are limited here.
Per the HF 2497 law, you won’t be able to place a wager on the performance of an individual athlete from a collegiate team in Iowa. All the other moneyline, spread, and total bets are still available.
Tennis
Numerous tennis tournaments stand out for their prestige and competitiveness. When the top tournaments, such as the Grand Slam events or ATP and WTA tournaments, start, you can expect many betting possibilities.
Outright winner is a common bet to determine which player you believe will win the tournament. More specific tennis bets include:
Set betting: You need to predict the final score in terms of sets.
Handicap betting: One player will be given a virtual advantage or disadvantage, so the player you back will need to win by a bigger margin.
Over/under betting: These types of bets see you predict whether the total number of sets or games will be higher or lower than a predefined amount set by the bookmaker.
Local Sports Partnerships
Even though there are dozens of top-class online sportsbooks in Iowa, they have yet to partner with college teams in the state. Iowa is not home to a professional team in any sport, so no notable partnerships exist.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Iowa
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Iowa, offering an excellent diversification for your online betting endeavor. DFS works similarly to season-long fantasy spots, but they are converted into a much shorter, daily, or weekly format.
You need to draft a roster of players and earn points based on their real-life performances. You can test your skills and luck against your friends or other Iowa fans and aim for stunning wins.
There is a wide range of contests to choose from, all of which cover the major sports in the US. You must draft a lineup using the fictional salary cap upon selecting one. Each player gets a salary, and you can choose players listed in the Player Pool. Once you fill all positions unique to each sport, the contest starts.
Daily fantasy tournaments are quite popular, where you need to compete with other players to secure some hefty wins, but head-to-head contests are also common, where you face off against one opponent.
Iowa Betting Apps
Sports betting apps in Iowa grow in popularity with each passing day as more and more people become dependent on their smartphones. Therefore, most top-class IA sports betting sites have created fully functional mobile sportsbook apps for Android and iOS devices.
As a mobile bettor, you won’t get to suffer from an incomplete betting offer. Therefore, you can still use all payment methods for deposits and withdrawals and claim rewarding bonuses.
Sometimes, you may even get a special bonus simply for downloading a mobile app—if the IA sportsbook seeks to promote its mobile app.
Betting via mobile brings more flexibility and convenience, especially when it comes to live betting, which requires instant action from your side.
Getting Started on an IA Betting Site
Online sports betting in Iowa is at your fingertips. Now, you can start to benefit from the best bonuses and bet on all sports you can think of. To do so, you simply need to follow the simple steps below:
Select a bookmaker: Take full advantage of the extensive list of IA betting sites here. Compare the sites, read the general T&Cs, and determine which matches your preferences.
Sign up: A short registration process now beckons. You must fill out a registration form with personal details such as email, name, and password.
Make a deposit: Choose one of the featured payment methods and make your first deposit. Note that every sports betting site in Iowa has its transaction limits.
Place a bet: You can use the welcome bonus to boost your money balance for your favorite sports. Look over the events available and place your first bet.
Withdraw your winnings: Once you secure a win and complete the wagering requirements, you can withdraw first. Once again, select a payment method and withdraw per the limits.
Join the Best Iowa Sportsbooks and Start Betting Now
Ready to jump into Iowa’s dynamic sports betting scene? Since its legalization in 2018 and online presence since 2022, the options for sports betting have only grown. Top sportsbooks offer better features each year, and we’ve done the research to bring you the best Iowa online sports betting platforms to save you time and effort.
Go through our list to find the sportsbook that fits your needs, sign up, and start placing bets on your favorite teams and sports. Plus, there’s a bunch of lucrative promotions that will give your betting balance a boost right from the start. Iowa’s sportsbooks are packed with opportunities to make your game-day experience even more thrilling.
FAQ about Sports Betting in Iowa
Yes, sports betting has been completely legal in Iowa since the overturn of the federal ban on betting in 2018. Initially, punters had to register at land-based betting shops, but all that changed in 2022, when Governor Kim Reynolds signed the amended HF 2497, which allowed online betting in Iowa.
Yes, all gambling winnings in Iowa are subject to a 5% state tax and a 24% tax imposed by the federal government. However, the exact tax rate you must pay depends on other variables, such as your income.
You can access a wide range of ongoing promotions on our featured sports betting sites in Iowa. The most common ones you will encounter include welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, free bets, and various loyalty perks.
Iowa bookmakers offer you all the popular sports and events for betting. Apart from the traditional NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, college sports betting is widespread among punters since there are no professional teams from Iowa in the major sports.
Thankfully, there is not just one answer to this question. There are numerous top-class sportsbook sites in Iowa, providing a plethora of options to choose from. Look at the featured list above, compare the sites, and choose one accordingly.
Yes, it is. Daily fantasy sports are an excellent way to spice up your online betting journey. You can choose daily or weekly contests and draft players per your salary cap limits. These contests usually feature big prizes for top-rated players.
All the sites we suggest are mobile-friendly, with some even offering mobile apps. Downloading Iowa betting apps is free, and you can quickly join and make mobile payments.
As with all other US states, you must be at least 21 years old to register and place real money bets at Iowa sportsbooks.
Sportsbooks we recommend have responsive support teams available via live chat, email, and phone channels. Support agents are usually available around the clock, regardless of your query.
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