Iowa sports betting has been legal since 2019, when both online and retail sportsbooks rolled out in August of that year. Caesars was the first sportsbook to launch in the state, and it’s been thriving ever since.

In this guide, I will give you an insight into the legal landscape of sports betting in Iowa. You will find out how sportsbooks work, the types of promotions you will encounter, and more.

Overview of Iowa sports betting

Iowa betting sites rolled out in 2019, soon after online and retail sports betting were legalized. You can pick from fourteen sportsbooks in the state, where you can wager on your favorite sports.

Timeline: History of online sports betting in Iowa

To help give you a deeper understanding of how the Iowa sports betting industry turned into what it is today, here’s a quick overview of the key events in time:

• 2018: Soon after the US Supreme Court ruling, local legislators began efforts to legalize Iowa sportsbooks.
• 2019: Sports betting was signed into law in May, with a quick turnaround to open retail and online sportsbooks in time for the NFL, NHL, and NBA seasons, offering locals access to NFL betting apps.
• 2020: The year ends with over $500 million in total wagers.
• 2021: Iowa online sportsbooks reach an all-time record for handle, hitting $287 million in November.
• 2022: HF 2497 passes the House and expands the Iowa sports gambling online industry into esports, too.

Iowa online gambling: A detailed breakdown

Before you get stuck into sports betting, you might be interested to learn about the tax rates and popular sports in the state. Check out everything you need to know below:

Licensing, Tax, and Oversight

Iowa has one of the lowest tax rates and license fees when directly compared with other regulated states, such as Tennessee sports betting. Currently, Iowa taxes sports betting revenue at just 6.75%.

When it comes to obtaining licenses, every site is permitted to have up to 3 online skins, which are the names for separate sites under the brand’s umbrella. This is allowed for a maximum of 57 sportsbooks. Speaking of licenses, Iowa operators are only required to pay a modest $45,000, which is considerably lower than the Virginia sports betting market.

Sports and market coverage in Iowa

The Iowa sports betting scene is diverse, offering the best sports betting apps that are well-stocked for local bettors. Iowa sports fans enjoy betting on America’s top sports and leagues, including football, basketball, and baseball. International sports like darts, cricket, and table tennis are also popular.

While there are no professional sports teams in Iowa, local sports fans root for major leagues, including:

• NFL: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Minnesota Vikings
• NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks
• NHL: Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues
• MLB: Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Kansas City Royals

While professional sports are popular, you can’t bet on player props for any college events. Having said that, you can enjoy wagering on college football and basketball, which are popular with Iowa State and the University of Iowa.

Promos in Iowa

The best sportsbook promotions keep you coming back for more, in terms of getting hold of the best odds and boosting your deposits, for example. While there are hundreds of different sports bonuses to look out for, let’s take a look at the best offers you will encounter on Iowa sports betting apps:

• Bet and Get: Place a qualifying bet and receive a bonus, such as ‘Bet $5 and Get $50’
• Odds Boosts: Get your hands on improved odds, which boost your potential return
• Deposit Match: Deposit funds into your account and receive a percentage back as a bonus, such as 100% deposit bonus, up to $250
• Bet Insurance: Place a bet on a specific market or sport and receive your full stake back if you lose
• VIP Program: Pick up points based on your wagers and you will work through the VIP tiers for exclusive promotions

The future of sports betting in Iowa

Just like I did for Colorado sports betting, I’m interested in weighing up the current landscape of Iowa sports betting to see what the future may hold. While February 2024 showed a slight decline of 8.9% from the following year, the market hit a record in June 2025.

Fast forward to June 2025, reports are showing that the sports betting handle was $168.2 million, with mobile sports betting taking up the majority share. Gross revenue also hit $20.6 million. As you can see, while there are a few dips, Iowa sports betting always bounces back.

To date, the sports betting handle is $12,088,690,215, with taxes bringing in $62,843,768. Either way, the Iowa betting scene has a lot of strengths. It’s a competitive market, plenty of sportsbooks, but not overcrowded, and it has relaxed tax rates. Based on my analysis, I foresee slow but steady growth for the market.

Verdict + pros and cons:

As you have seen, Iowa is a fantastic state for sports fans, especially those who prefer to wager online. With online sportsbooks taking the lead in the state and Iowa having one of the lowest tax rates, it’s one of the best states for sports wagering. But is everything sunshine and roses? Let’s take a look at some of the main pros and cons:

Top-rated sports betting sites

Online vs. retail betting in Iowa

Online sports betting in Iowa takes up the lion’s share, with 90% of wagers being placed at one of Iowa’s sportsbooks. However, when I looked further into this, mobile wagering is more popular, with residents favoring convenience. That’s not to say that retail betting isn’t appreciated, but the online sports betting market is thriving beyond belief and shows no sign of slowing down, just like Arizona sports betting.

Expert picks: Iowa’s best online sportsbooks

Let’s take a look at our recommended sports betting sites in Iowa:

Iowa vs. its neighbors

Iowa is nearby to a couple of states that are welcoming to online sports betting. Let’s take a look at a few of the best neighboring states that have lively sports betting scenes:

Responsible gambling in Iowa

There are several organizations that can help you with responsible gambling tools and help you get back in control over your wagering habits. The best sportsbooks in the state protect their bettors by maintaining a high level of standard and offering the best support. You will be able to access a range of deposit limits, request self-exclusion and time-outs, and more.

Expert verdict

After completing my analysis of the Iowa online sports betting industry, I’m thrilled to say that the market is alive and kicking. Iowa has truly embraced online and retail sports betting and permits 3 skins per operator. While there are many positives about the local scene, there are a few restrictions to note.

For example, you should keep in mind that you aren’t permitted to place prop bets on in-state college athletes. Wagering on non-sports is also not allowed, which means you can’t bet on your favorite entertainment award. Despite esports being legal, specific tournaments require approval.

Either way, Iowa’s sportsbooks are some of the biggest names in the world, not just in America. So, if you want to test the waters for yourself, why not click the promotional banners on this page to get started?

Quality sports betting bonuses

FAQ: Iowa sports betting

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