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Iowa might not have the most significant population density in the United States, but the state has one of the most competitive and best online sports betting markets in the country. The Iowa state legislature has gradually made online sports betting easier to use (by getting rid of the in-person registration rule in 2021) and has seen the state’s handle grow incredibly since online sports betting was legalized in 2019.
Users must be 21 years of age to participate: We’ll review everything you need to get started with Iowa sports betting and review the best sportsbooks in Iowa from the 18 currently active.
As of publication, there are 18 Iowa sportsbooks available for legal sports betting. The state has issued 19 total licenses to Iowa casinos, with each casino permitted to partner with three online sportsbooks.
| Sportsbook | Sidelines Sportsbook Review Score | Bonus | Promo Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | 5/5 | Risk-Free Bet | Up to a $1000 credit if your first bet loses. |
| Caesars Sportsbook | 4.5/5 | Risk-Free Bet + Rewards Points | Up to a $1250 credit if your first bet loses, plus 1,000 Caesars rewards and Tier Credits (2000 total bonus credits) |
| DraftKings | 4.25/5 | Bonus bet and deposit matching, first bet win bonus. | Bet at least $5 on any pregame moneyline and win $150 in bonus bets if the team wins. Receive a $50 bonus bet and a 20% deposit matching bonus up to $1000 on your first deposit. |
| FanDuel | 4.25/5 | Risk-Free Bet | Up to $1000 risk-free (no sweat) bet on your first wager. |
| Betfred | 4/5 | First bet bonus/Weekly losses refund | Bet $50, get $111, and receive 50% of weekly losses up to $1000 over five weeks ($200 per week). |
| Betway | 4/5 | Risk-Free (Second Chance) Bets | Up to $250 in second chance bets (Five $50 Second Chance bets) |
| PointsBet | 4/5 | Deposit Bonus | Up to $250 in matching deposit bonuses. |
| BetRivers | 3/5 | Risk-Free (Second Chance) Bet | Up to $500 in bet credits if your first bet loses. |
| Superbook Sportsbook | 3/5 | First bet match and a stand-alone bonus for Iowa players only. | Up to $1000 in bonuses matching your first bet. A $50 bonus voucher for Iowa sports betting players only (Code Claim $50). |
| Tipico | 3/5 | Deposit Match | Up to $100 in deposit matching bonuses. |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 2.75/5 | Risk-Free bet | Receive a 100% matching bonus on your first bet up to $250, which has to be a minimum of $5 and with minimum odds of -250. |
BetMGM is the leader in mobile sports betting and is the one-stop shop for sports bettors in Iowa. BetMGM has the options, features, functions, and intangibles that help users enjoy sports betting and empower them to become responsible gamblers. BetMGM is one of the best online sportsbooks, regardless of whether you are in Iowa.
Tipico might not be the biggest name in online sports betting, but it provides a competitive package with an easy-to-use app, a wide variety of betting options, and a very good selection of quick deposit and payment methods.
Connected to the Hard Rock Casino, the Hard Rock sportsbook has a limited footprint in the United States. Iowa is one of a few states with the Hard Rock Casino, which has a simple, easy-to-use app, a rewards program, and some positive functions (live betting) but lacks things like live streaming and doesn’t have great bonuses.
BetRivers is a prominent name in online sports betting. While their app is easy to use, the layout does feel very crowded. They do get a plus for having live streaming and a large selection of betting options. You can also easily access their customer support in the app.
Caesars sportsbook has one of the most competitive online sportsbooks featuring an easy-to-use and simple user interface, a wide range of betting options, rewards programs, live NFL streaming, and excellent customer service and banking options.
Betfred is new to Iowa but it’s growing. Right now it’s only available on mobile. It has a well-designed app with live data, a trending bets button, and many betting options and bonuses, but it lacks overall functions.
Betway has unique betting lines, various betting types, and a functional, easy-to-use app. However, Betway is lacking in customer service available and functions.
DraftKings is one of the premier sportsbooks with a very functional app, great promotions, and a wide variety of betting options. However, their aesthetics aren’t the best, and they have limited live chat functionality and fewer payment options than their competitors.
FanDuel has one of the most competitive online sportsbooks on the Iowa sports betting landscape. FanDuel’s app is easy to use and has most of the features that an online sports bettor would want. However, FanDuel’s customer service is lacking, and the sportsbook does not have bet editing functionality.
PointsBet is new to the Iowa sports betting scene and features unique promotions and a wide variety of betting lines and options. They also support live streaming, and multiple banking options. As PointsBet continues to grow, there is a chance that customer service will improve, giving PointsBet users easier access to edit or cancel a bet.
Superbook Sportsbook takes some design cues from BetMGM and has one of the best welcome promotions in Iowa. However, the app’s functions, payment options, and customer service are limited.
We review every sportsbook using the same criteria, and BetMGM ranks at the top or near the top of every criterion. BetMGM stands above the rest of the legal Iowa sportsbooks as it doesn’t really have a weak spot. BetMGM grades out from good to excellent in all of our categories.
Powered by William Hill, the Caesars Sportsbook is among the best sportsbooks in Iowa, with great options across the board and a very easy-to-use app. Caesars rewards program, promotions, 24/7 chat-based customer service, and live NFL streaming are just a few highlights of their sportsbook.
DraftKings is a premier sportsbook in Iowa. It has a comprehensive app with great promotions and countless betting options, but it’s limited in payment options and customer service. DraftKings narrowly edged out FanDuel, PointsBet, Betfred, and Betway for the final spot in our top three. Their promotions are that good, and that frequent.
While risk-free bets are always fun, they’re pretty standard. There are some very unique bonuses and promos for Iowa sports betting, and the more creative and generous the better
DraftKings has the best promo package in Iowa, featuring a matching deposit, a $50 bonus bet, and a realistically achievable first bet incentive.
Betfred is newer to Iowa but has an incredible combination of app promos and a welcome bonus, featuring a $111 incentive on your first bet, plus five weeks of betting losses rebates, helping players build their bankroll and get acclimated to online betting.
Superbook Sportsbook might be limited in options, but it has an incredible welcome bonus for Iowa users. Superbook Sportsbook has a large matching first bet bonus and a specific to Iowa $50 bet credit to incentivize Iowa sports betting players to help the sportsbook become more prominent in Iowa.
Sports betting apps must be smooth, easy to use and navigate, and functional. BetMGM has the most comprehensive and easy-to-use mobile app in Iowa sports betting and ranks atop our list.
We have one word to describe the Caesars Sportsbook: smooth. From finding the sport you want to bet on, to navigating the betting markets, and then ultimately filling out your bet slip and placing your bet, Caesars’ combination of UX/UI and functionality creates a smooth process from start to finish.
While FanDuel didn’t crack our top three Iowa sportsbooks, the FanDuel mobile app is one of the top three sportsbooks in the marketplace. The FanDuel app is very easy to use, very well laid out and has live streaming and a wide variety of betting options, helping the app overcome FanDuel’s limitations.
Regardless if it’s a legal Iowa sportsbook or in another jurisdiction, we use the same criteria to judge and review each sportsbook. No two sportsbooks are perfectly identical or created equal, but we aim to be fair, use the same criteria, and ask the same questions about every sportsbook.
We always focus on finding the best value for anyone of any experience level. To earn a high ranking, Iowa betting sites need to have excellent user interfaces, plenty of variety and options, secure, easy to use, and fun.
Registering for Iowa sports betting should be easy but feature robust identity verification processes. We move through the entire process to ensure no hiccups or glitches along the way.
For a sportsbook to rank highly, we want to find a smooth, error-free, and easy registration process for users, as long as the user has the proper identification requirements. If an Iowa sportsbook frustrates users in the registration process is never a good omen; a robust identity verification might be problematic for the impatient, but this is the first sign of a secure sportsbook.
Best in the state: Most Iowa sports betting options are equal, but BetMGM stands slightly above the rest.
You are providing personal and financial information with a sportsbook. It is paramount that your information and money are secure. We also review the sportsbooks’ responsible gambling measures as we give sportsbooks that empower players to be responsible gamblers a higher ranking.
We check where the sportsbooks are licensed, their security protocols, terms and conditions, and their stability as a sportsbook. We want to know that if a user provides their information to an Iowa sportsbook, that information is safe, and the player can rest assured that they will receive their winnings when they withdraw them.
Best in the state: All legal Iowa sportsbooks are connected to land-based casinos and have proper security measures in place. BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and BetFred are among the most secure and trusted Iowa betting sites.
User experience is something we pay close attention to in our review process. We are looking for a fun and easy-to-use experience, a site that’s simple to navigate and functions intuitively. We want to be able to find what we’re looking for quickly and not experience bugs or glitches.
We also evaluate aesthetics from color scheme to app layout and spacing: Some sites can feel crowded with too much on the screen in one spot, others can make it difficult for you to find what you’re looking for because the layout isn’t intuitive. These are things that will bring a site’s ranking down in user experience.
Best in the state: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook
A good sportsbook will have a generous welcome bonus and frequent promotions across multiple sports. Sites that offer unique promotions and special deals around big sporting events are the sites you want to use to place your bets.
We highly value easy ways for players to build their bankrolls and have ways to get a little more juice from the squeeze. Risk-free first bets and deposit matching welcome bonuses earn sportsbooks a high rank as they give players a great entry into Iowa sports betting that won’t hurt your bankroll.
Best in the state: Superbook Sportsbook, DraftKings, Betfred
We highly value options and varieties when ranking Iowa betting sites. When we visit a sportsbook, we want to find as many sports from across the world as options for bettors. We also want to see a wide variety of types of betting lines and options like live betting, props, futures betting, tournaments, and special events, alongside single-game betting.
Whether it’s the FIFA World Cup, IPL Cricket, NHL, or NASCAR Truck Series, we want users who follow these sports to be able to bet on them in as many ways as possible.
We do not penalize Iowa betting sites for not listing politics, entertainment, horse or second-tier and minor league professional sports betting lines. We don’t penalize a sportsbook for not having a horse racing book either.
Best in the State: BetMGM, DraftKings
The more features a sportsbook has, the better. Particularly when they’re unique to that sportsbook. We want to see things like rewards programs, bet builders, parlay calculators, betting education sections, live sports streaming, early cashout, bet editing, odds boosts, and anything that makes a user’s time betting more exciting.
Many of these features come standard now across most sportsbooks, but exactly how each feature works can vary from site to site.
Best in the State: BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbooks, PointsBet
Like everything else, we are looking for variety and value from deposit and withdrawal options. We want to see a variety of financial options like PayPal, Venmo, bank drafts, debit and credit cards, and cryptocurrencies, giving players the most options to fund their bankroll with the financial method they are most comfortable with.
We also check minimums on deposits and withdrawals, fees, and processing times to determine which Iowa betting site has the best overall banking package.
Best in the State: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook
No matter how good a sportsbook is, the best sportsbooks have exceptional customer service and support.
If something goes wrong at any point during a player’s use of a sportsbook, they’ll want to be able to address the problem in a timely manner. This is why we give higher rankings to online sportsbooks with at least a 24/7 live chat option.
The better and more efficient the customer service department is, the better the online sportsbook is likely to be.
Best in the state: BetMGM
Iowa sports betting legislation permits each of the 19 Iowa Casinos to partner with up to three online casinos, giving people within Iowa’s state borders many potential online betting markets.
You do not need to be an Iowa resident to do online sports betting; you simply need to be at least 21 years old to play and be able to be geolocated within the state lines.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Iowa and has been since 2019, launching in-person and online sports betting simultaneously in August 2019.
Sports betting has been legal in the state of Iowa since 2019. However, online registration for online sportsbooks was not available until 2021. From 2019-21, Iowa sports betting required in-person registration at a casino.
There is no cost to participate in Iowa sports betting. However, if you are associated in any way with sports betting in any other capacity, there is a licensing and fingerprint identification fee.
Yes, online horse betting is legal in Iowa. Iowa sports betting players can place wagers at racetracks, off-track betting sites, and online sports betting apps with a horse racing sportsbook.
