Legal Sports Betting For Iowa Residents

Between the laws in the state of Iowa and the federal laws pertaining to sports betting, there is nothing stating that it is a crime to bet sports online in Iowa. In fact, on top of the legal sports betting sites, sports betting is officially allowed in Iowa. Retail and state-licensed online sportsbooks are actively taking bets right now. The total of sportsbooks in Iowa is capped at 19, so there are plenty of options that are available within the state.

On top of the sportsbooks that the state offer, there are also a good number of online offshore sportsbooks that you can take advantage of. When you look at the wide selection of sports, betting options, and bonuses that are offered legally, betting using one of our recommended sites is the best way to enjoy sports wagering due to the fact that they have more sports that you can bet on and a wider range of availability. If you want to learn more about these legal sports betting site for Iowa residents, then continue to read this page to find out more.

Can We Now Legally Bet On Sports In Iowa?

Yes, you can legally bet on sports in Iowa. It took some time but Iowa sportsbooks are actively taking bets as you read this page. Sports betting is taking place within Iowa’s 19 casinos and many of them offer online and mobile sportsbooks as well. For these online sportsbooks, you need to go to a retail sportsbook and sign up for your sportsbook account. This is the rule until January 1, 2021. After that, you can sign up for your account remotely. But if you do not live close enough to one of the sportsbooks that do have active online sports betting, online offshore sportsbooks are the best alternative to that. Creating an account is free and you can sign up for them in the comfort of your own home.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Iowa?

We can 100 percent say yes, sports betting is completely legal in Iowa. Iowa lawmakers have passed IA SF 617 which made both land-based and mobile sports wagering legal. State casinos are now able to acquire a sports betting license and open sportsbooks in Iowa. Once you have registered for your online sportsbook account in Iowa, you are free to make bets no matter where you are within state borders. If you do not live close enough to a casino that is offering mobile sports betting, the best alternative to that is online offshore sportsbooks. You can access your favorite sportsbook account using your mobile device and you will be able to make the same bets you normally would have using your computer.

Sports Betting Laws in Iowa

The main piece of legislation that you should pay attention to when you are looking at sports betting laws in Iowa is the bill that legalized sports betting. IA SF 617 lays out all the details that will affect sports betting in the state. The law tells sportsbook operators what they can and cannot do, which gives you an idea on what kind of sportsbook menu you should expect in the future.

Only people who are 21 years and older can place their sports bets in Iowa. Online offshore sportsbooks follow local laws in this regard so you will have to wait until you are 21 to bet on an offshore sportsbook as well. Iowa residents and visitors are free to bet on any college game they so please. But, you will not be able to make prop bets on local Iowa colleges. You can still bet on their games, even at home, but you cannot do prop bets on them.

There are 19 Iowa casinos can open sportsbooks and they are allowed to partner with two different sportsbook operators. Not including online offshore sportsbooks, this means that there can be a total of 38 land-based and online sportsbooks available. Gross sports betting revenue will be taxed at a rate of 6.75 percent. If you are interested in using a state-licensed sportsbook online, you will have to first register your account at a casino. After January 1, 2021, you will be able to register for an account remotely. On top of all of this, the sports betting bill has also legalized daily fantasy sports (DFS) as well. Sites like FanDuel and DraftKings will soon become available for Iowa players.

Will I Go to Jail for Online Sports Betting in Iowa

Absolutely not. Since sports betting has been formally legalized in Iowa, there is no chance at all that you will be arrested for sports gambling in the state. The only way that you could possibly end up in legal trouble is if you decide to use a bookie to make your sports bets. Using a bookie will remain against the law and you are likely to get in trouble for using one. With all the perfectly legal sportsbook operators, why would you want to take the risk?

Legal Sports Betting Sites For Iowa Residents
Bovada Sportsbook
50% Up To $250 On First Deposit
All States ex. NY, NJ, NV, DE, MD

Bovada is one betting site we have always relied on for fair gaming. They pay some of the most favorable odds the market has ever seen, offering players easy access to winnings should they know how to start betting. If you follow our advice and join up with Bovada, there are plenty of bonuses for you to take advantage of. Bitcoin users can also claim an instant 50% match bonus with code BVSBITCOIN50 for up to $500. Right now, you can get a 50% Welcome Bonus for up to $1,000. Just use the promo code BVNFL1000 if you are betting on NFL games and BVNCAAF1000 for college football. They accept various deposit methods, including Bitcoin, VISA and wire transfers. Their betting lines cover everything from NFL, NBA, MLB, the NHL, NASCAR and more. Every favorable sport is available through their list of odds, and you will not have to worry about anything other than knowing where to place your wager. When we came to Bovada, we found their security to be impenetrable and their payouts to come fast.

BetOnline Sportsbook
Unlimited 50% To $1,000
All States - ex NJ, NV, NY

BetOnline brings its users a fairly diverse set of odds, though they only focus on sports. You can even find some entertainment and political betting odds on their website. By bringing their player's easy deposits with Bitcoin and credit cards, BetOnline is one of the easier betting sites to join up with, as they even offer the best deposit bonus around. They have a 50% match to $1,000 by using the promo code BOL1000 which means you will be able to boost your bankroll significantly. BetOnline has favorable odds since they focus so heavily on sports, making them a solid home for sports gamblers. Entertainment and political bettors should also find a home here as well.

MyBookie Sportsbook
50% to $1,000 Welcome Bonus
All States - ex NJ, NV, NY

It only takes players a few seconds to look up how MyBookie sportsbook works. There are plenty of features that players can use and live betting and mobile betting are the top two. There are all the betting options that most players like to place their bets under. It is great to know that money can be made at anytime and when all it takes is for players to be 18 and older to sign up, this means that there will be a lot of players that will sign up very quickly. Players know that bonuses will be here as well so make sure to see how great MyBookie is before these sports seasons end!

Best Sports Betting Sites For Iowa Players
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How Federal Laws Impact Iowa Sports Betting

Although the federal laws no longer have a strong hold on sports betting in Iowa, it is still important to view how they have affected Iowa and how they affect the state today. While this law was overturned on May 14th, 2018, it is important that bettors know the history of the law. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) made it impossible for the states to create new sports betting laws. Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware were excluded due to their preexisting sports lotteries and sportsbooks. PASPA is the reason why Nevada is known as the gambling mecca of the U.S., as it was the only state with single-game wagering. With PASPA repealed, all 50 states can legally offer sports gambling and many states already have, now including Iowa.

When we look back at the Wire Act of 1961, it is clear to see that the original intent of the law has changed throughout time. The law made it illegal for persons in the business of gambling to transmit sports wagering or assist with placing bets by using a wire communication facility. While this initially only pertained to telegraphs and telephones, the advent of the internet widened the law’s scope. Now, the Wire Act is interpreted to include US gambling operators that use the internet for collecting bets. This law, like most, does not penalize bettors in any way. Instead, it focuses solely on gambling operators. Although it may seem like at first, using the internet to place your bets online is perfectly legal.

The Unlawful Internet and Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is the third and final federal law that you should be familiar with. While it does not focus specifically on legal Iowa sports betting sites, it does relate to online gambling as a whole. The UIGEA is a banking restriction imposed upon US financial institutions that will occasionally make it more difficult for credit card payments to be processed if the payments came from an online offshore gambling site. The good news is that online sports betting sites offer several different funding methods and also use a variety of payment processors. Even if your card gets declined once, it may still work in a later transaction.

Legal Betting Age in Iowa

The legal betting age in Iowa is officially age 21 or older, which means you can join any online sportsbook after this point. When you start signing up an online sports betting sites you may notice that they accept bettors at 18 years old. You will still want to abide by the legal Iowa betting age to avoid running into trouble for underage gambling. Keep in mind that the sports betting age set by the online operator is a blanket age for their players from all around the world and is not state-specific.

Is Mobile Sports Betting Legal in Iowa?

Yes, mobile sports betting is legal in Iowa. On top of using your mobile device to place your bet on your favorite offshore site, state-licensed sportsbooks will also allow you to bet using a mobile device. Mobile sports betting is one of the latest and most exciting features to be offered by legal Iowa sports betting sites. You can access your entire sportsbook from your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Galaxy Note, or another handheld device. There is the same wide selection of sports and wagering types including straight, total, point spread, parlay round robin, and teaser bets. Iowa sports fans can fund their accounts and make withdrawals all from the mobile platform.

Some sites will even offer bonuses when you use the mobile betting platform for the first time, such as SportsBetting with their $50 mobile free bet. All of the online sports betting sites that we recommend have no-download mobile sportsbooks. Just use your browser to access the online sportsbook from your mobile device and you will be redirected to the mobile betting platform.

Can I Bet on Politics?

Yes, you can bet on politics. Legal Iowa sports betting is actually not all about traditional sports. With such high-profile presidential elections in recent years, election betting odds have been more in demand than ever. Presidential election betting odds will start to appear well before many candidates officially hit the campaign trail. Get odds for winning the presidential primary, odds for winning the US presidential election, odds on who will win a specific state, and betting lines for every event on the road to the Presidency. One thing to remember though is that retail sportsbooks in Iowa are not allowed to have odds on politics. This also includes their mobile and online sportsbooks. But online offshore sportsbooks like Bovada will have odds on politics and are constantly updating in response to current news.

How Do I Find an Iowar-Friendly Sportsbook on the Internet?

Once state-licensed sportsbooks eventually open up, finding an Iowa-friendly sportsbook will be easier than ever. But if you cannot wait for that time, then using one of our recommended online offshore sportsbooks is your best bet. They have been accepting bets from Iowa residents for over a decade. Iowa is one of the states that is widely accepted by online sports betting operators. You will not come across a legitimate online sportsbook that bans Iowa residents from betting on their favorite sports.

Sports Betting FAQ for Iowa

Why Did My Credit Card Get Declined?

Your bank most likely declined the transaction due to the UIGEA. This is common, but your card will usually work if you try again at a later time. Online sportsbook operators work with a variety of payment processors to ensure that your payments go through. Using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Dash is your best bet, but you can also use MoneyGram and Western Union that you can use if your bank continuously declines the deposit.

Will Iowa Ever Allow Casino-Based Sports Betting?

Yes, Iowa has officially had it in the legal books that they are allowing for casino-based sports betting. Sportsbooks in Iowa are operated both online and in retail locations. These retail locations are in casinos. On top of all of this, sports betting is actively taking place in Iowa. So feel free to use one of Iowa’s sportsbooks or one of our recommended online offshore sportsbooks.

What Are The Fees To Deposit And Withdraw?

Banking fees will vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, but there are a few commonalities between books. Credit card deposits may have a small percentage of between 4% and 7% charged by either your card issuer or the online sportsbook. When making a deposit with person to person methods such as Western Union or MoneyGram the cashier will sometimes cover fees when making a deposit over a certain amount. When mailing in money orders, the cashier may reimburse any express shipping fees. You will never get charged for using cryptocurrencies.

Nearly every legal Iowa sports betting site that we recommend offers one free payout per month. This can come in handy when withdrawing with checks or person to person methods that can have fees ranging from $25 to $100. Bank wire transfers will have fees dependent on the amount of the transfer, which is why you will have to get instructions from customer service before using this method.

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that has risen in popularity as a banking method for sports bettors. The decentralized digital currency is extremely reliable because the sender is completely in control of the transaction. Unlike credit cards, you never have to worry about a third-party processor or bank declining the transaction. Payments are processed almost instantly and there are always moderate banking limits. You can deposit anywhere from $10 to $25,000 at some sports betting sites, and withdraw up to $15,000. Whether making a deposit or requesting a payout, there are no sportsbook fees charged by the cashier. If you want to get money in and out of your account quickly, Bitcoin is the way to go.

Teams In Iowa To Bet On

Iowa may not be the first state that people think of when it comes to betting on sports, but there is still a large fan base when it comes to both professional and collegiate sports. The only home teams in Iowa to bet on are in the NCAA, being that the state does not offer any NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, or MLS teams. The Iowa Hawkeyes have been in the Big 10 Conference and have had one of the highest March Madness appearances of any of the state’s Division 1 basketball programs. You can also bet on the Iowa State Cyclones who have had plenty of Big 12 tournament success. Aside from Iowa teams, online sportsbooks allow players to bet on any sports team that they are a fan of or see good betting value in. You can bet on NFL teams like the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Cavaliers while still being a loyal fan of the Hawkeyes.