Iowa Sports Betting : IowaBets Expert Review IA Sportsbooks April 2025

List of IA Sportsbooks & Sports Betting Sites Live

1. bet365 Iowa Sportsbook

bet365began with an online sportsbook serving New Jersey, and now offers sports wagering in multiple states throughout the country. They're quickly becoming one of the top sports betting sites and brands in Iowa.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.8/5
🏆 Best Feature:	User Experience
📲 Our Review:	bet365 IA Sportsbook

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21+only or 18+ and present in CO, IA, KY, LA, NJ, OH, VA. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY, LA, NJ, OH, VA) or 1-800BETS OFF (IA). T&C’s and restrictions apply.

2. Fanatics Sportsbook Iowa

 Fantics is the newest operator to join the Iowa sports betting market. The brand is originally known for its famous sports apparel. After years of rapid growth, the brand now looks to tackle the sports betting market.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.7/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Unique Betting Features
📲 Our Review:	Fanatics sportsbook IA

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Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF

3. FanDuel Iowa Sportsbook

In the world of sports betting, FanDuel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any Iowa sportsbook. Originating from the DFS realm, FanDuel offers a seamless experience, FanDuel impresses with its user-friendly app, diverse betting options, and competitive odds.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.7/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Most popular in the US
📲 Our Review:	FanDuel IA sportsbook

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Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs apply.

4. DraftKings Iowa Sportsbook

As the preferred sports betting destination for many across the country, DraftKings has earned its reputation as a Boston-based daily fantasy giant. Offering competitive odds and an impressive welcome package, it's complemented by daily promos and boosts for existing members.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.6/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Great user experience
📲 Our Review:	Draftkings IA sportsbook

 

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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 5/18/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

5. Caesars Iowa Sportsbook

Joining the league of gambling giants, Caesars Sportsbook boasts an online presence that keeps expanding, delighting Iowa sports bettors with a distinctive and entertaining platform. 

⭐ Our Rating:	4.5/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Easy to use app
📲 Our Review:	Caesars IA sportsbook

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Must be 21+ to participate. T&C apply.

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Must be 21+ and present in IA. T&Cs apply.

6. BetMGM Iowa Sportsbook

BetMGM is a great place to play. This Iowa sportsbook has an excellent rewards program, a variety of promotions, and an "Edit My Bet" feature. New users can take advantage of Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Loses with the code IABMGM.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.5/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Best Rewards Program
📲 Our Review:	BetMGM IA Sportsbook

 

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Bonus Code: BETIABONUS

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Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in IA. Gambling problem? Call1-800-BETS-OFF. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

7. Sporttrade Iowa

Sporttrade is the most unique sportsbooks in Iowa thanks to their exchange market. You don't bet like a regular sports betting site at Sporttrade; buy and sell markets to other sports bettors instead of the books' odds.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.2/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Exchange Platform
📲 Our Review:	Sporttrade IA

8. ESPN BET Iowa Sportsbook

ESPN BET is the world wide leader in sports news and television - and recently they've been taking on the betting industry. The highly anticipated brand is making waves with its generous welcome offer of "Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets" using the code REPORT.

⭐ Our Rating:	4.1/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Biggest brand in Iowa
📲 Our Review:	ESPN BET IA

$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets If You Don't Win

Bonus Code: BETIABONUS

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Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in IA. Gambling problem? Call1-800-BETS-OFF. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

9. Bally Bet Iowa Sportsbook

The Bally brand has been around for well over a decade now and they've been trying their hand in the sports betting space. Check out Bally Bet and see what they got as one of the many different IA sportsbooks available for playing on.

⭐ Our Rating:	3.8/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Live Streaming
📲 Our Review:	Coming Soon

10. BetRivers Iowa Sportsbook

Originating from the renowned Rivers Casinos in Pennsylvania, BetRivers has rapidly gained popularity among sports bettors across Iowa. While the welcome offer may be slightly lower, BetRivers compensates with daily odds boosts, occasional bet insurance promos, and various "bet and get" deals.

⭐ Our Rating:	3.8/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Ongoing promotions
📲 Our Review:	BetRivers IA sportsbook

11. Hard Rock Bet Iowa

You've likely heard of the Hard Rock brand but did you know their sportsbook is live in Iowa? They've taken their brand from the live casino vibe straight to their sportsbook. You'll need to visit their sportsbook in Sioux City as they're not available online.

⭐ Our Rating:	3.4/5
🏆 Best Feature:	Unique Promotions
📲 Our Review:	Coming Soon

Retail and Brick-and-Mortar Iowa Sportsbooks

Some bettors still enjoy the charm of placing bets in person at retail sportsbooks. Despite the term "old-fashioned," these spots offer a modern experience with multiple screens displaying various events simultaneously.

At these retail sportsbooks, you can either place bets at the counter or utilize self-service kiosks for convenience. Moreover, many locations provide lounge areas where you can relax, grab a bite, and immerse yourself in the excitement. Here's a list of retail sportsbooks in Iowa:

Contact Options For Sportsbooks in IA

If you're having an issue at any of the legal sportsbooks in IA, it's fairly easy to reach out to any of them. Below is a list of ways you can contact each Iowa sportsbook:

How to Pick the Best Iowa Online Sportsbook

By now, you can probably see that there's a lot to consider when you're deciding what Iowa sports betting platforms to sign up for. Read on and we'll summarize what we think are the top things to look for.

Great Reviews

When a company treats people well, the word gets around. Online sportsbooks are no exception, and people will sing the praises of good experiences and sound the alarms for bad ones. You can visit our site to read reviews of each and every licensed, legal sportsbook in the Iowa sports betting market.

Betting Options

We've touched on this above, but it bears repeating. Different books will have different bet types and even a different variety of sports and leagues you can bet on. Before you sign up for a sportsbook, you may want to make sure the betting options you're looking for are available there. And for the most variety, you can always sign up for multiple platforms.

Betting Lines and Odds 

Competitive odds are important to any bettor, and you'll want to make sure the sportsbooks you're interested in have fair betting lines. We listed some of the apps with the best odds a little further up the page, but you can also check a given app's reviews to get a better idea of how their odds stack up.

Special Offers and Bonuses 

Welcome bonuses and existing player offers can really make or break the experience on a particular sportsbook. Signup deals can help you start off on the right foot, and regular promos can help keep things interesting, or even give you some incentive to try different types of bets. Bonuses can stretch your sports betting budget, take some pressure off and make the entire experience a lot more fun.

Design and Ease of Use

You want to be able to quickly navigate any Iowa sports betting app or website, so it's important to find ones that feel natural when you're browsing and placing bets. Slowdown, crashes and geo-tracking bugs can also be very frustrating, so you'll want to make sure the sportsbooks you sign up for get good ratings for performance and speed.

Customer Support

Let's face it – at some point, you'll likely have a question or minor issue you need help with, and it's nice to know that you can quickly reach a responsive and helpful customer support team. Live chat options are always preferable, but the more ways to get in touch, the better.

How Different Bets Are Settled

It doesn't come into play too often, but sportsbooks will sometimes have different rules for settling or voiding bets. For instance, you might see differences in how they handle ties in golf, rainouts in baseball or players missing games due to injury. You may want to look up this kind of information before signing up, particularly if you tend to make certain types of bets.

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Why You Should Sign Up For Multiple Iowa Sports Betting Sites

If you're trying to decide which Iowa sportsbook to sign up for, it can be a tricky decision. They all have different strengths and features that make them stand out.

Well, what if we told you that there's absolutely no reason you need to stick to using a single sports betting app? Though placing all your sports bets with one platform can help some bettors stay organized, there are a whole host of benefits you get from signing up for multiple books.

Multiple Welcome Bonuses

The first and most obvious advantage is that you can claim a separate welcome bonus at every single sportsbook you sign up for. When you look at the relatively solid value for new player offers, this can be an excellent way to try to build up a bit of a bankroll, which you should be able to move between the platforms without too much trouble. Clearly, no bonus bet or boosted wager is guaranteed to pay out, but the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses certainly do give you a leg up.

Experiment With What Works for You

Creating an account on multiple platforms also gives you a chance to see which one(s) you prefer, and gives you access to more overall bet types and sports to bet on. The user interface, layout and look of a site or app can definitely enhance or take away from your experience, so it's important to find one you like.

You may prioritize certain features over others, like the daily boosts from the DraftKings Sportsbook or the early cash-out option from BetMGM. In terms of variety, one sportsbook might really emphasize certain prop bets or prop betting in general, while another just gives you more overall options to bet online.

You might find an operator that makes a big splash during college sports tournaments, with special boosts and bonuses you can use with your favorite Iowa teams, like the University of Iowa or Iowa State. But another might have more secondary leagues available year-round, with the best betting options for the Canadian Football League, European basketball or Japanese and Korean baseball.

Shop Around for the Best Odds

Finally, being able to place bets with different books lets you shop around for the best odds you can find. One Iowa sports betting app may have a moneyline at +120, but you might find that same team at +140 in another online sportsbook. You can also build the same parlay or same-game parlay in multiple apps to see how the odds compare. The bottom line is that with more places to bet, you give yourself the best chance at finding the most favorable odds for a bet you may well already be set on making.

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Must be 21+ to participate & present in Iowa. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). T&Cs Apply.

Advanced Sports Betting Strategies

There's absolutely nothing wrong with recreational betting, and placing bets here and there on events you're interested in. However, there are also several strategies you can use to give yourself the best chance of coming out on top. Seasoned sports bettors may be familiar with most of these, but here are some strategies you can use to try to push the odds in your favor.

Using Home Team Advantage

In almost every sport, teams play better at their home stadium, arena or park. Before betting, you can research how big an edge this gives a particular team, and generally how big of an edge it is for a particular sport.

Matched Betting

Matched betting involves taking bonus bets from sportsbooks and using them to bet on all outcomes of an event, increasing your chance of a profit. This normally won't work on a single site. You would need to use at least two different sportsbooks with varying odds to place wagers on opposite sides of a line.

Arbitrage Betting

Often shortened to "arb" betting, arbitrage requires a bettor to review lines and odds at different sportsbooks until they find a pair of lines on opposite sides of an outcome that guarantee profit when bet together.

An example would be if the moneyline for Team A is at -110 at one book and +115 at another. With very large bets in the correct amounts, a small profit can be made betting both sides. Sportsbooks have discouraged this by monitoring and changing lines rapidly, so when lines move, they often do so across many sites and apps almost simultaneously. Still, shopping for the best odds on a bet will always be to a bettor's advantage.

Other Software Features at Iowa Sportsbooks

The software that powers the different sports betting platforms is very similar across the board. Almost all sportsbooks have game-tracking technology for most sports, which is particularly useful for live betting. Every book will show odds and results in real time, and you can actually see the numbers change right in front of you. All licensed platforms have encrypted and secure banking transactions, and your account will usually be protected by multiple levels of security, including optional two-factor authentication.

Sports to Bet on in Iowa

It is legal to bet on almost any sport in Iowa, here are the most popular:

NFL Betting

The NFL is the most popular sports league in the U.S. and it sees an enormous volume of bets every season, even in Iowa. Point spreads and over-under bets are some of the most popular, but the sport lends itself to prop betting on players and team stats. Annually, the Super Bowl is the biggest sports betting day of the year.

NBA Betting

The second-most watched sport in the U.S. offers a similarly large variety of betting options. While there aren't any professional teams located in Iowa, the NBA has a heartbeat in the state with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota Timberwolves' franchise G-League team.

MLB Betting

With 162 regular season games and multiple playoff rounds, baseball gets a lot of viewers just from the sheer amount of it that's played. It's yet another great betting option for stat hounds, with plentiful hitting and pitching props. There are aplenty of minor league baseball to see live throughout the state but you can place MLB bets in Iowa from anywhere.

NHL Betting

Everyone loves the NHL playoffs, and people love betting on hockey, too. Odds can swing very quickly because of the relatively low scores of games, and moneylines tend to be most commonly bet. Still, newer bet types like GIFT (goal in first 10 minutes) and separate period props are a favorite of many bettors.

College Sports Betting

College sports have always been extremely popular in Iowa due to no professional teams in the state. It's legal to bet on teams like the Hawkeyes and Cyclones (Bulldogs and Panthers, too!) all throughout the year.

Horse Racing

Betting on horse races is legal online and in person in Iowa. To do so, you must at the Prairie Meadows track in Altoona or one of the at several off-track betting locations, many inside casinos.

Daily Fantasy Sports

DFS competitions are 100% legal in Iowa, essentially adding a gambling component to traditional fantasy sports. You see how your lineups and picks stack up against other players, with cash prizes at stake.

Elections

The Iowa Electronic Markets, created for research and teaching purposes is one of the only places you can bet on U.S. government elections. You'll still need to fill out some information and meet certain criteria to be granted access.

Prohibited Bet Types in Iowa

There are some types of bets that are not legal in Iowa. That consists of the following markets:

• Youth Athletics
• Collegiate Player Props
• Pop Culture Ceremonies
• eSports

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Deposits and Withdrawals from Iowa Sports Betting Sites

You'll find very similar banking options across all of the licensed Iowa betting sites, summarized above. In our experience, transactions were timely and accurate for every method listed.

• Credit/debit cards: The most convenient option because most people have one. But be aware that some banks will not process gambling transactions and others may charge high fees. Credit/debit cards are not commonly accepted for withdrawals.
• Play+/Prepaid cards: Most online casino operators offer their own branded prepaid card, often through Play+. Players can usually apply for one directly from the operator’s website. A player can load a Play+ card with a credit card or bank account and transfer the funds to a sportsbook account. Winnings can be transferred back to the Play+ card and the cash accessed at an ATM.
• E-wallets: PayPal is the most widely accepted, with Neteller and Skrill also popular options. Setting up an e-wallet account allows you to transfer money to and from your online sportsbook account quickly for low fees.
• ACH/bank transfer: Deposits and withdrawals are made to your online account through e-checks and wire transfers.
• Cash, check, money order: Cash deposits can be made at the casino partnered with your online sportsbook operator. Cash deposits can also be made via PayNearMe, available at Iowa 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy or Family Dollar stores. Checks remain a viable withdrawal method. Simply make a request and a check will be mailed to you.

Using Venmo at Iowa Betting Sites

You can use Venmo at most of the state's online sportsbooks, with the exceptions noted above. The fast and reliable payment system is a solid choice for secure transactions.

Types of Bets At Legal IA Online Sportsbooks

Moneyline

Choose which team or athlete is going to win, with different odds for the favorite and underdog.

Parlays

Parlays are single bets on multiple outcomes – with the bet winning only when every result is picked correctly. Generally, parlays are less likely to hit, but can have much bigger payouts.

Totals

Also called over/unders, these are bets on whether the total number of points scored by both teams will be higher or lower than a preset number.

Point Spreads

Unlike moneylines, point spreads are meant to handicap a game so that both sides can be bet at very similar odds. You're trying to pick which will be higher – the favorite's total minus the points they're giving or the underdog's total plus the points they're getting.

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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 5/18/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Futures

Futures are longer-term bets that involve a team's performance over the course of a season or playoff run. You can place these bets during a season, too, and the odds will change depending on whether the team is riding high or slumping.

Prop Bets

Prop bets are wagers that don't directly relate to the overall result of a game or event. You can bet on random things like the coin toss or length of the national anthem, or choose more relevant props like what team will score first or how many points an individual player will have.

It's important to note that while prop bets on professional athletes is legal but it's illegal to bet on individual athlete prop bets in the college sports market.

Live Bets

Live bets (also known as in-game bets) are wagers placed during an event. The odds will update constantly as the game or match progresses, and you can often watch or track the action right in a sportsbook app.

Iowa Sports Betting Tax Rate

The state of Iowa has one of the lowest sports betting tax rates at 6.75%.  For context of just how low Iowa's sports betting tax rate is, just look to the east at New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island; sportsbooks must pay 51%.

Nonetheless, Iowa has still made significant proceeds from expanded online betting, as mentioned in the sections above. And the low tax rate makes the state an attractive destination for sportsbooks to offer their odds. They get to pay fewer taxes, regardless of the overall sports betting handle in Iowa, and resident like you and I get access to more options.

If you have made money betting on sports, check out our Iowa Gambling Tax calculator to see how much you owe.

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Sports Betting Winnings?

Yes, all Iowa residents must pay taxes on their sports betting winnings. At a rate of 6%, or 7% if there's a local tax option of 1%, your winnings must be reported as "Other Income" on the IA 1040.

You can also itemize any of your sports betting losses in the state of Iowa as a miscellaneous deduction on the Iowa Schedule A. Those losses cannot exceed your winnings, however.

How Iowa Compares to Other States with Legal Sports Betting

While there were initially some restrictions (i.e. in-person signup even for online accounts) in place for legal sports betting in Iowa, it's now a very simple and streamlined process to place sports wagers in person or online.

Three William Hill retail sportsbook locations and several more throughout the state (like the Diamond Jo, Riverside Elite Sportsbook or Lakeside Casino Sportsbook) provide everything you'd expect from a traditional sports betting experience. Signing up for Iowa sports betting apps is also just as quick and easy as you'd hope, and similar to what you'd find in any other state with legal sports betting.

There are no noteworthy restrictions on bet types or the events you can bet on, so Iowa bettors get the full suite of sports wagering options. And as we mentioned in the section just above, the low tax rate on sports betting revenue means more operators are likely to enter the Iowa sports betting market in the future.