Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Iowa?

What is the legal status of online sports betting in Iowa? Happily for sports fans, it is fully legal and live. The final step (removing in-person registration) took place in January 2021. Since then anyone over the age of 21 in Iowa can register a sports betting account and place real money wagers from the comfort of their own home.

Online Gambling Legalized In Iowa

Sports betting had in fact become legal in Iowa in May 2019 when Senate File 617 was signed into law. However, it took a bit longer to fully implement mobile betting. While the popularity of Senate File 617 was very evident when the House of Representatives said yes by a vote of 67 to 31, there were issues that were going to cause strife among Iowa sports bettors.

There was no delay from the sportsbooks themselves. The first live bets were taken online within three months of the Governor’s actions. The reason Iowa sports betting got off to a slow start was more pragmatic. Initially, sports bettors were required to sign up for online betting accounts in person through one of the state’s retail sports betting sites. Despite the fact almost all of the state’s retail casinos have a retail sportsbook, this proved relatively inconvenient for many prospective players.

But since January 2021, all restrictions were eased and the floodgates opened for Iowa sports betting. It’s a lot easier now you can do everything on your phone, tablet or computer.

Betting On NCAA Sports In Iowa

As for the question of letting Iowa sports bettors bet on in-state college teams, the answer was a thumbs-up with one caveat. Operators cannot offer player-related prop bets. This is a common restriction intended to protect the student athletes and the integrity of the events. But overall it was the decision both sports fans and Iowa sportsbooks alike were happy with. The chance to bet on the state’s college teams is a big deal to local sports fans who love their Hawkeyes and Cyclones.

Setting Up An Online Sports Betting Account In Iowa

Signing up to an online sports betting account in Iowa is simple. You can register an account via the sportsbook’s website on desktop/laptop or on a mobile device. You also have a choice between accessing most sportsbooks through your browser or downloading the app. Iowa sportsbook apps are available for both iOS and Android. Our main Iowa sports betting page contains all the information needed for getting started.

Here are some of the top ranked Iowa Sportsbooks:

Bonuses For New Iowa Sports Betting Accounts

There is an additional perk waiting for Iowa bettors signing up to an account for the first time. Each Iowa sportsbook has a welcome offer for new users. Some reward new accounts with a matched deposit bonus. This means the player effectively doubles their bankroll when they first deposit.

Another popular bonus is a risk free first bet. That means the first bet can’t lose. If it does, the bettor receives the amount of the losing bet back in the form of free bet credit. On rare occasions new players may even receive a no deposit bonus which is free betting credit simply for signing up a new account.