Online Gambling in Iowa
Iowa
Is it Legal in Iowa?
Online Sports Betting
Daily Fantasy Sports
Online Horse Wagering
Online Casinos
Online Poker
Online Lottery
Much to the surprise of observers, Iowa became one of the first states to legalize sports betting, and with it, online sports wagering. Fresh off the heels of the United States Supreme Court overturning the 1992 PAPSA law, Iowa legalized sports betting in May 2019.
The first online sportsbooks launched in August 2019 with a handful of others following suit within six months after William Hill became the first. One big annoyance, at least for now, is that sports bettors must register for online sportsbooks at their partner land-based casino. Fortunately, once sports bettors make this step, they can continue wagering at that online sportsbook.
In addition to online sports betting, players in the state can play daily fantasy sports and bet horses online in Iowa.
What is available in Iowa?
Iowa may be a small and somewhat conservative state, but that doesn’t stop them from being one of the first states to legalize online sports betting. There are six main online sportsbooks offering betting lines in the state, with DraftKings and PointsBet being the biggest national brands.
There are 19 casinos and four tribal casinos, and so far 13 of them offer some form of online sportsbook with some casinos sharing an online brand.
Operator | When Opened | Partner Casino | Online Products | More Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
DraftKings Casino | February 2020 | Wild Rose, Ameristar | Sportsbook | Review |
Bet.Works | August 2019 | Riverside, Rhythm City Casino | Sportsbook | Review |
William Hill | August 2019 | Lakeside Casino,, Isle of Capri, Prairie Meadows, Harrah's Council Bluffs, Horseshoe | Sportsbook | Review |
PointsBet | November 2019 | Catfish Bend, Prairie Meadows | Sportsbook | Review |
GiG | December 2019 | Hard Rock | Sportsbook | Review |
FanDuel | September 2020 | Diamond Jo Casino, Catfish Bend | Sportsbook | Review |
Even with an impressive selection of online sportsbooks, there is still room to grow with Iowa online sportsbooks, although many of the online brands are already represented in the state. Still, with six more casinos not yet launching sportsbooks, players could soon have more variety.
For the time being, sports betting appears to be the focus of the state. However, with land-based casinos widespread available in Iowa, it could be only a matter of time before casino gambling comes to the state. Due to the relatively small size of Iowa, online poker might take awhile.
- Daily Fantasy
- Best Ball, Daily Drafts & Pick'em
- Legal in 26 states + Canada
Iowa Online Gambling Frequently Asked Questions
Iowa requires that sports bettors be at least 21 years of age or older to bet on sports. This is the same age, required to bet at Iowa’s retail casinos.
In addition to being of legal age, you must also be physically located in Iowa while you are registering. In fact, to complete the registration process after downloading an app, you must visit the partnered land-based casino. This rule is scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, much to the approval of sports bettors. Out of state visitors can also bet on sports while visiting Iowa.
In order for major online sportsbooks to operate in Iowa, they must first partner with an existing Iowa casino. This partnership framework has led to big brands such as DraftKings, PointsBet and FanDuel to offer sports betting.
Pennsylvania online gambling is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Any rules or regulations not expressly stated in the 2018 law legalizing online gambling is established by the PGCB.
Iowa sports betting is regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
Unlike some offshore sportsbooks, betting online through sportsbooks that have been regulated by states is extremely safe. You can expect the state’s online sportsbooks to treat customers fairly and you should never have to worry about whether your funds are safe or not — all operational funds are required to be segregated from player funds.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed SB 417 in May 2019, which legalized land-based and retail sports betting as well as daily fantasy sports. Although Iowa was among the first states to legalize sports betting, Iowa was one of a few states where players could not play daily fantasy sports.
Iowa sports bettors can access most online sportsbooks in the state through a web-based browser or a dedicated app for iOS and Android users. Players on an Apple iPhone or iPad can access apps through the App Store while Android users must download apps through the website itself.
If you are located in Iowa, you can deposit through one of a handful of payment methods, which vary according to the specific sportsbook where you are wagering. In general, expect to be able to fund your sportsbook account through a variety of cards including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards. Bank options include bank wires and eChecks while cash options include PayNearMe or cashier cages at casinos.
E-wallets are also a popular option, which includes Paypal and Neteller. One of benefit e-wallets is that they can often be used for withdrawals. eChecks and checks can also be used for withdrawing your winnings.
If you or a loved one have a gambling problem, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission provides a variety of resources for players including a toll free number by calling 1-800-BETSOFF. Players may also take advantage of the Self-Exclusion Program, which allows them to voluntarily exclude themselves from wagering in casinos, racetracks, sportsbooks and daily fantasy operators.