In May of 2018, the Supreme Court overruled a law that placed a federal ban on sports betting. This decision has given each state the power to legalize sports betting, both online and at retail locations such as casinos, racetracks, and gambling boats.
Online Sports Betting in Iowa
Iowa legalized sports betting on May 13th, 2019 becoming the 11th state to do so. After having the bill on her desk for a few weeks, Kim Reynolds finally signed SF 617, bringing legal sports betting to the Hawkeye State. The first sports bet was taken in Iowa on August 15th, 2019 at noon.
It is important to note that until January 2021, residents of Iowa will have to register in-person at a casino to bet online. After this date, you will be able to register on your phone. Residents of Iowa must be at least 21 years old to bet on sports.
Best Iowa Online Sportsbooks
Here are the best online sports betting sites for residents of Iowa:
- DraftKings Sportsbook – Best Overall, Best for Beginners
- PointsBet – Best Variety of Bets, Best Odds
- Hard Rock Sportsbook – Best Casino Games
DraftKings Sportsbook – Best Overall, Best for Beginners
DraftKings is one of the best sportsbooks available due to its excellent selection of sports and bets, fantastic live betting, and unparalleled education and statistics. DraftKings offers pools, daily odds boosts, party parlays, early cash-outs, and an annual sports betting national championship. If you're new to sports betting and want the complete package, look no further.
Pointsbet – Best Unique Style of Betting
For more experienced bettors, PointsBet brings a new style of betting to the United States, and frankly, I'm a huge fan. I think PointsBetting is unique and fun enough to justify opening an account with PointsBet, regardless of whether or not you have other sports betting accounts. The wide slate of bets and sports offered make the sportsbook a worthwhile endeavor to any sports bettor looking for a new an exciting way to bet.
Hard Rock Sportsbook – Best Casino Games
Sports betting options are basic, failing to compete with top-tier sportsbooks. Hard Rock can provide value to users who primarily play online slots. Unfortunately, with online slots still being illegal in Iowa, Hard Rock only offers the basic package in terms of sports betting..
What Casinos can I Register at to Bet Online?
Here are the casinos you have to register at to bet on each online sportsbook:
- DraftKings - Wild Rose Casinos (Locations at Clinton, Emmetsburg, and Jefferson)
- PointsBet - Catfish Bend Casino, Burlington
- Hard Rock - Hard Rock Casino, Sioux City
- Q Casino Sportsbook - Q Casino and Hotel, Dubuque
- Elite Sportsbook (website only, no app) - Riverside Casino - Riverside, Rhythm City Casino - Davenport, Grand Falls - Larchwood
Which Iowa Sportsbooks Offer the Best Odds?
At BettingBuck.com we collect odds data for several months across all major sports. Over 10,000 data points were collected for moneyline, spread, and total bets. The sportsbook that offers the best odds for each sport is listed below. Better odds means more money in your pockets!
- MLB Moneylines - DraftKings
- MLB Spreads- PointsBet
- NCAA Football Moneylines - PointsBet
- NFL Moneylines - DraftKings
- NHL Moneylines- DraftKings
- NHL Spreads - PointsBet
- NBA Moneylines - DraftKings
- Soccer Moneylines - DraftKings
What Iowa Sportsbooks Offer the Best Banking Options?
Legal U.S. sportsbooks, like all the ones on this guide, tend to offer a variety of banking options with low-to-no fees, as well as low minimum deposits and withdrawals. The tables below compare banking options for some of the best Iowa sportsbooks.
Deposit Options
Sportsbooks offer different ways to deposit money online and in person at the casino they're licensed through. The table below highlights some of the deposit information for the top online sportsbooks in Iowa.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | Hard Rock Sportsbook |
| Total Deposit Methods | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| No Debit/Credit Card Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Min/Max - Debit/Credit Card | $5/$2,000 | $5/Varies | $10/$50,000 |
| PayPal | Yes | No | Yes |
| Deposit Min/Max - PayPal | $5/$2,000 | $20/$1,000,000 | |
| Banking Options and Fees |
Withdrawal Options
Sportsbooks offer different ways to withdraw money online and in person at the casino they're licensed through. The table below highlights some of the withdrawal information for the top online sportsbooks in Iowa.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | Hard Rock Sportsbook |
| Total Withdrawal Methods | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| No Withdrawal Fees - Check | Yes | Yes | No |
| Check Payout Speed is < 10 days | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal Min/Max - Check | $5/Varies | $5/Varies | $10/$100,000 |
| Withdrawal Min/Max - PayPal | $5/Varies | N/A | |
| Banking Options and Fees |
Best Iowa Live Betting
DraftKings offers the best live betting experience in Iowa. Live betting is when you bet on a game that has already started. DraftKings provides instant bets, a live match tracker, and a good mix of live bets. These are features that PointsBet and Hard Rock can't compete with at this time.
DraftKings offers a ton of in-play bets and prop bets. An example of a prop bet is How many strikeouts will Justin Verlander throw? DraftKings also gives customers a live match tracker, which displays down, distance, and last play results for NFL games. Select live statistics are also available.
Gallery
A note on bonuses
At BettingBuck we do not give a rating for bonuses because they are not the core product at hand. While they can be nice to have, they are not a core function of the sportsbook. We do include bonuses that were available at the time each review was conducted. Remember, before agreeing to receive a bonus, it is important you understand the rollover requirements, as well as any other terms and conditions the sportsbook might impose.
Best Iowa Sportsbooks Summary
| Iowa Online Sportsbook | Best For | Live Betting | Bets Offered | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Best Overall | 5 | 5 | 5 Stars |
| PointsBet | Unique betting style | 3 | 4 | 4.5 Stars |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | Best Odds | 3 | 4.5 | 3 Stars |
Did the Iowa Sports Betting Bill Legalize Anything Else?
Iowa's sports betting law legalizes betting on professional games, as well as college games. The law also allows Daily Fantasy Sports sites to now accept customers from Iowa. The bill allows Iowa gambling boats, racetracks, and casinos to apply for a license to offer sports wagering.
Are any sports wagers prohibited in Iowa?
Yes, it is illegal to bet on the performance of a collegiate athlete or team that is based in Iowa. It is also illegal to bet on any competition where athletes are under eighteen years of age.
What is Daily Fantasy Sports?
Daily Fantasy Sports, or DFS, is a cross between fantasy football and legalized gambling. On a broad level, DFS contests are a subsection of fantasy sports. Players compete against their friends, or more often complete strangers to build a team of professional athletes under a given salary cap, and try and to outscore their opponents. Daily fantasy sports differ from traditional fantasy sports by having contests that last for an evening or the weekend, as opposed to having the same team for months.
FanDuel and DraftKings are currently the two biggest Daily Fantasy Sports providers.For more information on DFS, read our Daily Fantasy Sports Educational Guide
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Iowa?
No, offshore sportsbooks such as Bovada are not legal in Iowa. Offshore sportsbooks do accept residents of Iowa as clients. With legal sports betting in Iowa, there is no need to bet with a potentially unsafe offshore sportsbook.
Is betting on horse racing legal in Iowa?
Yes, horse racing is legal in Iowa. Residents can bet at racetracks such as Prairie Meadows or Q Casino & Racetrack (greyhound racing). Residents can also bet online at popular sites, such as TwinSpires, or BetAmerica.
Is online poker legal in Iowa?
No, online poker is currently illegal in Iowa.
Does Iowa have an online lottery?
No, the Iowa Lottery does not offer online games.
Methodology
For the BettingBuck.com annual best online sportsbooks review published in 2020, a total of 2,300 data points were collected over six months and used to score sportsbooks. Additionally, odds data was collected for each sportsbook on over 1,400 bets to give each sportsbook a comparative odds ranking.
Learn more about how we test.