Are you an Iowa resident who wants to bet on the NFL, NBA, or college sports? If so, you will need an online sports betting account.
Using a sports betting app, also known as an online sportsbook, is required to place bets. Hawkeye State residents can bet on sports at brick-and-mortar casinos, or on their mobile phones or computers.
This guide will break down the best Iowa sports betting sites by comparing the total number of sports and bets offered, odds, live betting features, mobile apps, educational resources, ease of use, as well as current bonuses and promotions.
Best Online Sports Betting Apps in Iowa 2021
- DraftKings Sportsbook – Best Overall for Beginners
- FanDuel – Best Mobile App
- PointsBet - Best New Bet Type
- William Hill – Good Odds
- BetMGM – Best for M Life Members
Best Overall for Beginners
DraftKings is the complete package for both new and experienced sports bettors and daily fantasy sports players. While the live betting, education, and mobile app are all great, I found the unique bets and pre-game statistics DraftKings offers to be the best in Colorado. Read full review
Best Mobile App
Like its closest competitors, FanDuel is one of the most well-rounded sports betting options available. The high-quality live betting, bets offered, and the odds are worth emphasizing for both new and experienced bettors. FanDuel is also one of two sportsbooks available that offers daily fantasy sports. Read full review
Best New Bet Type
PointsBet brings a new style of betting to the United States, and frankly, I'm a huge fan. PointsBetting is unique and fun enough to justify opening an account with PointsBet, regardless of whether you have other sports betting accounts. While some sportsbook functions, such as live betting, can be improved, PointsBet offers good odds and an excellent palate of bets to choose from. Read full review
Good Odds
William Hill offers competitive odds for various sports while offering all standard sports and bets on an easy to use mobile app. Bettors seeking daily odds boosts or a wider variety of bet types will want to consider other sportsbooks. Read full review
Best for M Life Members
BetMGM provides Colorado residents with various banking options, a decent selection of sports and bets, and an array of seasonal promotions. Read full review
Best Betting Odds in Iowa
To determine which Iowa sports betting sites offer the best odds, I recorded and analyzed data from hundreds of games for spread, moneyline, and total bets. The sportsbooks that provide the best odds for each sport are listed below.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | FanDuel Sportsbook | BetMGM | William Hill |
| NFL Moneyline | Best | Average | Best | Average | Above Average |
| NFL Spread | Below Average | Above Average | Average | Below Average | Average |
| NBA Moneyline | Above Average | Average | Worst | Average | Best |
| NBA Spread | Below Average | Above Average | Average | Below Average | Average |
| MLB Moneyline | Average | Worst | Average | Best | Average |
| MLB Spread | Average | Average | Above Average | Below Average | Best |
| NHL Moneyline | Best | Above Average | Worst | Above Average | Above Average |
| NHL Spread | Below average | Above Average | Above Average | Average | Best |
| Soccer Moneyline | Above Average | Worst | Above Average | Below Average | Above Average |
| NCAAF Moneyline | Worst | Above Average | Below Average | Below Average | Below Average |
| NCAAF Spread | Below Average | Average | Average | Below Average | Average |
Deposit Options
Here is a comparison of deposit options amongst top Iowa sports betting apps.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | FanDuel Sportsbook | BetMGM | William Hill |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $5 | $10 | $10 | $5 |
| Total Deposit Methods | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| No Debit/Credit Card Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Min/Max - Debit/Credit Card | $5/$2,000 | $5/Varies | $10/Varies | $0/Varies | $20/$1,000 |
| PayPal | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Deposit Min/Max - PayPal | $5/$2,000 | $10/Varies | $10/Varies | $10 | $5 |
Withdrawal Options
Here is a comparison of withdrawal options amongst top Iowa sports betting apps.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | FanDuel Sportsbook | BetMGM | William Hill |
| Minimum Withdrawal | $1 - $15 | None Listed | None Listed | $10 | $20 |
| Total Withdrawal Methods | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| No Withdrawal Fees - Check | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Check Payout Speed is < 10 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal Min/Max - Check | $5/Varies | $5/Varies | $10/Varies | $0/Varies | N/A |
| Withdrawal Min/Max - PayPal | $5/Varies | $10/Varies | $10/Varies | $10 | $20 |
Iowa Sports Betting Timeline
Here is a short timeline of how Iowa sports betting became a reality:
- 2019 - Kim Reynolds 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.
- 2020 - At the end of 2020, eight sports betting apps were legal in Iowa, with other sportsbooks set to launch in January of 2021. It is important to note that until January 2021, Iowa residents will have to register in-person at a casino to bet online. After this date, registration will be open to mobile devices. Residents of Iowa must be at least 21 years old to bet on sports.
Best Iowa Sportsbooks Summary
Below is a summary of the best online sportsbooks currently available in Iowa.
| Feature | DraftKings Sportsbook | PointsBet | FanDuel Sportsbook | BetMGM | William Hill |
| Overall | |||||
| Sports & Bets Offered | |||||
| Odds | |||||
| Banking Options and Fees | |||||
| Live Betting | |||||
| Mobile Betting | |||||
| Education | |||||
| Bonuses & Promotions |
DraftKings Sportsbook 
DraftKings is the complete package for both new and experienced sports bettors and daily fantasy sports players. While the live betting, education, and mobile app are all great, I found the unique bets and pre-game statistics DraftKings offers to be the best in the state. Read full review
Minimum Deposit: $5
Who Choose DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Great for beginners. Sports betting beginners will benefit from the education provided by DraftKings. Educational videos and articles explain how to bet and what different bet types are available. Sport-specific guides are also available, explaining common strategies for having the best chances of success.
- Unique bets and contests. The variety of sports and bets offered, the outstanding education and statistics, and the excellent live betting experience combines to make DraftKings one heck of a sportsbook. I also found DraftKings to offer one of the largest selections of unique bet types and contests.
- Bonuses: Promotions change throughout the year, but typically DraftKings offers risk-free bets up to $1,000 for new bettors, deposit matches, or other various offers depending on the time of year. Keep in mind there are typically rollover requirements attached to each bonus.
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FanDuel
Like its closest competitors, FanDuel is one of the most well-rounded sports betting options available. The high-quality live betting, bets offered, and the odds are worth emphasizing for both new and experienced bettors. FanDuel is also one of two sportsbooks available that offer daily fantasy sports. Read full review
Minimum Deposit: $10
Why Choose FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Excellent mobile app. Focused on usability, I found the FanDuel Sportsbook app to be one the easiest to use and best designed apps overall.
- Great for bettors. The high-quality of live betting, bets offered, and the odds are all worth emphasizing for both new and experienced bettors. I was left impressed.
- Bonuses: Promotions change throughout the year, but typically FanDuel offers a risk-free bet up to $1,000, as well as several other smaller seasonal offerings. Keep in mind there are typically rollover requirements attached to each bonus.
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PointsBet
PointsBet brings a new style of betting to the United States, and frankly, I'm a huge fan. PointsBetting is unique and fun enough to justify opening an account with PointsBet, regardless of whether you have other sports betting accounts. While some sportsbook functions, such as live betting, can be improved, PointsBet offers good odds and an excellent palate of bets to choose from. Read full review
Minimum Deposit: $5
Why Choose PointsBet:
- You’re interested in PointsBetting. PointsBetting takes a spread, total, or prop bet and makes it a variable bet until the end of the game. The idea is, the more correct a bettor is, the more they win, and vice versa.
For example, let's say you bet $10 on the Dallas Cowboys (-3) against the Jacksonville Jaguars (+3). If Dallas wins 24-20, you covered the spread and won by one point. For this example, you multiply your $10 wager by one, for a total win of $10. If Dallas wins 26-20, you covered the spread and won by three points. For this example, you multiply your $10 wager by three, for a total win of $30. If Dallas loses 17-20, you lost the spread by six points (the three Jacksonville won by plus the three Dallas was favored). For this example, you multiply your $10 wager by six, for a total loss of $60. - Bonuses: Typically, PointsBet offers two risk-free bets up to $500 on the first fixed odds bet and PointsBetting Bet, as well as various seasonal promotions. Keep in mind there are typically rollover requirements attached to each bonus.
William Hill
William Hill offers competitive odds for various sports while offering all standard sports and bets on an easy to use mobile app. Bettors seeking daily odds boosts or a wider variety of bet types will want to consider other sportsbooks. Read full review
Minimum Deposit: $5
Why Choose William Hill?
- Good for spread bettors. For 2019 – 2020, William Hill offered the #1 odds on MLB spread bets, the #1 odds on NHL spread bets; the #2 odds on NBA moneyline bets, the #5 odds on soccer moneyline bets, and the #5 odds on NFL moneyline bets. For testing, data from 21 different sportsbooks was collected.
- Simplicity. William Hill doesn’t offer any unique bet types or features compared to other sportsbooks such as DraftKings, PointsBet, and FanDuel.
- Bonuses: Promotions change throughout the year, but typically William Hill offers risk-free bets up to $500 for new bettors. Keep in mind there are typically rollover requirements attached to each bonus.
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BetMGM
BetMGM provides residents with various banking options, a decent selection of sports and bets, and an array of seasonal promotions. Users interested in online slots and online poker in eligible states should check out BetMGM, as it is one of the only sportsbooks to offer both types of gambling. Read full review
Minimum Deposit: $10
Who should consider BetMGM?
- Ability to edit open bets. BetMGM is one of the only sportsbooks that allows bettors to modify an open wager. For example, if you bet on the Chiefs to win the Chiefs-Saints game, you can add a bet on the over/under at the end of the first quarter with live odds. This type of flexibility is a cool feature for those who enjoy live betting.
- Bonuses: Promotions change throughout the year, but typically BetMGM offers a risk-free bet up to $500, as well as an array of ongoing seasonal promotions. Keep in mind there are typically rollover requirements attached to each bonus.
What Iowa Casinos Offer in Person Sports Betting?
Residents of Iowa can bet on sports in-person at the following locations. This list was updated in January of 2021.
- Ameristar
- Catfish Bend
- Diamond Jo Dubuque
- Diamond Jo Worth
- Grand Falls
- Harrah’s
- Hard Rock
- Horseshoe
- Isle Bettendorf
- Isle Waterloo
- Lakeside
- Prairie Meadows
- Q Casino
- Rhythm City
- Wild Rose Clinton
- Wild Rose Emmetsburg
- Wild Rose Jefferson
How do I bet online in Iowa?
- 1. Create an account. Every online sportsbook has an online website as well as a mobile app. To create an account on the app or website, you will need your name, address, phone number, and email address. Some sportsbooks might ask for more information such as social security number; which is normal.
- 2. Fund the account. Deposit money into your newly created account. In Iowa, standard banking methods include credit/debit cards, PayPal, ACH (e-check), Bank Transfers, Play+ Cards, and PayNearMe.
- 3. Add your bet(s) to the betslip. To do this, click on the bet that you want to place.
- 4. Select the wager amount. Enter the amount of money you want to wager. The bet slip will display your total wager and potential payout. Keep in mind, the potential payout includes the money that you are wagering. For example, in the screenshot below, you are betting $10 to win $8.80. Thus, the potential payout is $18.80 (total wager $10 + potential winnings $8.80).
- 5. Finalize the bet. Place your bet and set an alarm for game time!
- Online Sports Betting - Legal
- Online Horse Betting - Legal
- Daily Fantasy Sports - Legal
- iGaming (online slots) - Not Legal
- Online Poker - Not Legal
- Online Lottery - Not Offered
- Offshore Sportsbooks - Not Legal
- Drake Bulldogs (Football) Team Website // Schedule // News
- Iowa hawkeyes (Basketball) Team Website // Schedule // News
- Iowa Hawkeyes (Football) Team Website // Schedule // News
- Iowa State Cyclones (Football) Team Website // Schedule // News
- Football - NFL, NCAA, CFL
- Basketball - NBA, NCAA, WNBA, International Leagues
- Soccer - English Premier League, MLS, International Leagues
- Baseball - MLB + International Leagues
- Hockey - NHL + International Leagues
- Golf - PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, International Leagues
- Tennis - All Major U.S. Tournaments + International Matches
- Other Sports - UFC/MMA, Motor Sports, Boxing, Cricket, etc.
- Odds have either a plus or minus in front of them.
- Odds are in terms of 100.
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What types of gambling are legal in Iowa?
Here are the forms of legal gambling in Iowa:
Popular Iowa Sports Teams
Residents of Iowa can bet on all professional and collegiate sports, which include some of the following collegiate teams in Iowa:
What sports leagues can I bet on in Iowa?
Almost all domestic and international leagues are available to bet on with Iowa sportsbooks:
How to Read Odds
Odds represent the likelihood of an outcome occurring. In sports betting, each team is assigned odds that represent the likelihood of them winning the game. American odds are what you will see displayed on every U.S. sportsbook and sports betting app.
The first thing you will notice when reading odds will be that:
Betting Odds are written in terms of 100 as an industry standard. The easiest way to think of the plus and minus signs is as follows. If it is a plus, you will receive more than a $100 payout on a $100 bet. If it is a minus, you will have to bet more than $100 to win a $100 payout.
Thankfully, you can view your potential winnings on each bet before placing it at an online sportsbook. That said, it is beneficial to understand the betting odds.
Keep in mind for both spreads and totals that if the game ends in a draw for the bet, you get your stake back but do not win or lose any additional money.
What is a Moneyline bet?
A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game outright. Both the favorite and the underdog are given odds to win the game. View example bet slip.
| Moneyline Odds | How to Read it | What it Means |
|---|---|---|
| Lions +130 | Lions plus 130 | By betting $100 you will win $130 if the Lions win |
| Packers -150 | Packers minus 150 | To win $100, you must wager $150 on the Packers to win |
What is a Spread bet?
A spread bet is a wager on which team will cover the spread or point spread. Underdogs will be given additional points with the spread, while the favorite will have to win by a certain amount of points to cover the spread. View example bet slip.
| Spread Odds | How to Read it | What it Means |
|---|---|---|
| Lakers + 5 (-110) | Lakers plus 5 points at minus 110 odds | The Lakers must win the game, or lose by less than 5 for you to win your bet |
| Rockets -5 (-110) | Rockets minus 5 points at minus 110 odds | The Rockets must win the game by more than 5 points for you to win your bet. A tie is a push, meaning you don't win or lose. |
What is an Over/Under (Total) bet?
An over/under bet focuses on how many points are scored, regardless of who wins the game. After a total point score has been set, bettors can wager whether the game's actual score will be over or under the preset point score. View example bet slip.
| Total Odds | How to Read it |
|---|---|
| Over 7 (-115) | In order to win $100, you must bet $115 on the overall combined run score to be higher than 7 |
| Under 7 (-110) | In order to win $100, you must wager $110 on the total combined run score to be less than 7 |
More of a visual person? Here's a YouTube video covering moneyline, spread, and total bets.
What is a Parlay bet?
A parlay bet is a group of bets, typically spread, moneyline, or total bets, combined into one bet to increase the payout odds. For the parlay to win, each separate bet has to win. View example bet slip.
What is a Future bet?
A futures bet is a bet on an event that takes place in days, weeks, or months. The most common future bets are placed on what team will win the finals before the season starts. View example bet slip.
What are Bonus Rollover Requirements?
Rollover requirements are requirements bettors MUST fulfill before they can withdraw the bonus money. Each type of bonus has different terms and conditions, which you should examine before accepting.
Rollover requirements for sports betting often range between 1X-10X, with some extreme requirements going all the way up to 15X. For example, let’s say you deposit $100 and receive a $50 bonus with a 5X rollover. Before you can withdraw the $50 in bonus funds, you have to wager $750 (($100 + $50)x5). Clearly, the $50 bonus is a lot harder to obtain if you don’t bet frequently.
This table gives you an idea of how much you will have to wager before withdrawing your bonus at multiple rollover rates. We will assume each deposit made is $100.
| Bonus Percentage ($100 Deposit) | Bonus Amount | Bonus Withdrawal with 1X Rollover | Bonus Withdrawal with 3X Rollover | Bonus Withdrawal with 5X Rollover | Bonus Withdrawal with 10X Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25% Deposit Match | $25 | (100+25)x1 = $125 | (100+25)x3 = $375 | (100+25)x5 = $625 | (100+25)x10 = $1,250 |
| 50% Deposit Match | $50 | (100+50)x1 = $150 | (100+50)x3 = $450 | (100+50)x5 = $750 | (100+50)x10 = $1,500 |
| 100% Deposit Match | $100 | (100+100)x1 = $200 | (100+100)x3 = $600 | (100+100)x5 = $1,000 | (100+100)x10 = $2,000 |
Is Sports Betting Legal in Iowa?
Iowa sports betting is legal online and at brick-and-mortar casinos. The first legal sports bet in Iowa took place on August 15th, 2019.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 617 into law in May 2019. The bill legalized sports betting online and at Iowa gambling boats, racetracks, and casinos. The bill also allowed Daily Fantasy Sports sites to accept customers from Iowa. If you’re interested in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), read our DraftKings and FanDuel reviews.
Are any sports wagers prohibited in Iowa?
Yes, it is illegal to bet on any player props for individual players from Iowa’s in-state college teams. It is also illegal to bet on any player props for players playing against an in-state team. Prop bets are bets on an individual’s performance. An example of a prop bet is “Will Brock Purdy throw for over or under 2.5 touchdowns?” Props aside, you can still bet on who will win the game, total points scored, and spreads, among other bets.
How old do you have to be to bet on sports in Iowa?
Anybody who is 21 years or older can bet on sports in Iowa. As long as you are 21 and within state lines, you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to bet on sports.
If you live in Iowa and travel to a state that does not have legal betting, you will not be able to bet. Your phone or laptop uses geo-technology to make sure you are within state lines. The only people prohibited from betting on sports include athletes, coaches, refs, and other related personnel.
Do you have to pay taxes on sports betting in Iowa?
According to the IRS, “Gambling winnings are fully taxable, and you must report the income on your tax return.” Form W-2G is used to report gambling winnings and gambling losses, which may be deduced if adequately itemized.
For online gambling winnings, residents must send in Form W-2G when certain winning thresholds are reached. For example, if a player wins more than $600 or at least 300 times the wager amount, the form must be filled out.
Is it legal to bet on horse racing in Iowa?
It is legal to bet on horse racing in Colorado. Residents can bet with legal online providers such as TVG, BetAmerica, and TwinSpires.
Does Iowa offer an online lottery?
No, Iowa does not currently offer any online lottery games or tickets.
Is DraftKings sportsbook legal in Iowa?
DraftKings is a safe and legal sports betting option for residents of Iowa. DraftKings obtained its license from Wild Rose Casino.
Is FanDuel sportsbook legal in Colorado?
FanDuel is a safe and legal sports betting option for residents of Iowa. FanDuel obtained its license from Diamond JO Casino.
Is Bovada legal in Iowa?
Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie are considered offshore sportsbooks and are illegal. These sportsbooks are not approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, regulating all legal Iowa sportsbooks.
Methodology
For the first BettingBuck.com annual best online sportsbooks review a total of 2,300 data points were collected over six months and used to score 18 sportsbooks.
Sports betting sites were scored across seven core categories to compute an overall rating: sports and bets offered, odds, live betting, mobile apps, educational resources, ease of use, and bonuses and promotions.
Additionally, odds data was collected on over 1,400 bets to give each sportsbook a comparative odds ranking. We collected odds for spread, moneyline, and total bets for over 75 NFL games, 75 MLB games, 75 NBA games, 75 NHL games, 75 Soccer games (various leagues), 75 NCAA Football games, and 75 NCAA Basketball games. When collecting odds, we made sure to collect the same games at the same time for each sportsbook, ensuring data accuracy.
Learn more about how we test.