Real Money Iowa Sports Betting Sites (2021)

Many are surprised to find that Iowa has a large and successful gambling industry. Over the years, lawmakers here have worked diligently to allow regulated casinos and a state lottery. Recently, sports betting has become regulated here as well. In this guide, our team of gambling professionals will explain how to find the best Iowa real money sports betting sites online.

If you want to get straight to the betting, just check out some of the best sports betting sites in Iowa listed below. Afterward, feel free to learn more and keep reading.

Rank Gambling Site Deposit Bonus Get Started
#1
BetUS
125% Up To $2,500 Visit Site
#2
BetOnline Sports
50% Up To $1,000 Visit Site
#3
Bovada Sports
50% Up To $250 Visit Site
#4
SportsBetting.ag
50% Up To $1,000 Visit Site
#5
MyBookie
50% Up To $1,000 Visit Site

Pretty much every best US online sportsbook is available in Iowa. But it can seem a little daunting trying to choose which one to join, especially if you’re new to the industry. So, we’ll go over some of the important features you should look for in Iowa betting sites.

After that, we’ll get into the laws regarding online sports betting in Iowa. Our team will let you know what’s allowed in the state and what isn’t.

What You Should Look for in Real Money Iowa Sports Betting Sites

It’s amazing to see how far the US sports betting industry has come. Today, there are tons of Iowa betting sites available for every type of bettor. And a majority of them are great places to wager on sports. But some do have shady reputations.

It’s important to know how to distinguish a good real money sports betting site from a bad one, and this is easier now than ever before. Here are some basic features that all reputable Iowa sports betting sites will offer to their members.

Safe Payment Options

Iowa Flag
The first thing that we recommend you look for in Iowa betting sites is a safe and easy-to-use payment system. This is the feature of betting sites that collects and pays out your money. It’s extremely important to only play through Iowa betting sites that keep your money secure.

Finding information on a sportsbook’s payment options is very easy. You can simply check out the site and start browsing through the different pages. Most will list its accepted payment methods on their cashier pages. Our site also offers a gambling site reviews page that dives into the payment systems for many of the top online sportsbooks in the country.

We recommend joining online betting sites in Iowa that allows debit and credit cards. Deposit fees should be low. Most real money sports betting sites in Iowa only allow withdrawals to be made using Bitcoin. Fortunately, Bitcoin payouts are easy and almost always come with extremely low fees.

Nothing is more important than making sure the real money you are betting with at Iowa betting sites is safe. Spend some time checking out the IA betting sites that provide you with safe payment options all day, every day.

Helpful Customer Support Options

It’s unfortunate to see how many individuals sign up to a sports betting website without even looking at which forms of customer support are offered. Don’t make this mistake!

Finding a Iowa betting site’s support options is easy and shouldn’t be overlooked. Reputable IA sports betting sites feature the available forms of customer support directly on their homepages. There are a few support options that are known to be better than others.

We personally believe that the best customer support option is via live chat. This allows you to speak directly with a website representative over text chat. Some sites offer direct phone line support, which is also great.

You should avoid any Iowa betting sites offering only email support. More often than not, this form of customer service will take weeks to answer your questions. Look for the ones that are available to instantly help you out.

Modern Design and User Interface

On the surface, the design of Iowa betting sites might not seem all that important. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The way that different real money sports betting sites are set up will affect your entire gambling experience.

We feel that you should only play through the sports betting sites in Iowa that offer clean, modern designs. These sites should also provide a user interface that’s simple. In other words, it should be easy to navigate through the website itself.

You should never have a difficult time placing wagers or collecting your money. Finding the sports that you want to wager on should be a breeze.

Everyone has a different design preference. The important thing is finding online betting sites in Iowa that offers a design and interface that you like.

Odds on the Sports You Want to Bet On

This one might seem completely obvious, but some folks sign up for an online sportsbook in Iowa without even checking the available odds. Either way, it’s one of the easiest mistakes to avoid!

Just about all Iowa sports betting sites feature their entire list of betting odds directly on their homepages. It should only take a minute or two to find out if the odds you’re looking for are available. Much like design, everyone has different preferences when it comes to betting and betting sites.

If you love football, check for a site that offers odds on the regular and postseason of the NFL. If you love MMA, then look for a real money online sportsbook with UFC or Bellator betting odds. Some sites are known to offer more odds than others.

Never sign up to a betting website until you know that odds on the sports you plan to bet on are available. Do some research and compare the odds being offered by a few different sites.

As long as you find an online sportsbook in Iowa offering these four features, it’s probably fantastic.

Why Are Iowa Sports Betting Sites so Popular Right Now?

You may have noticed that sports betting is growing extremely popular around the entire country. Part of the reason for this is the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down PASPA. Once this decision was made, every state in the country was given the ability to set its own laws on sports betting.

Today, more than 20 states have now legalized this form of gambling. More are likely to do so over the next few years. Iowa was one of the first states to truly embrace this industry.

Legal and regulated sports gambling options for money have been available here for a while now. Interestingly, many individuals still choose to play through sites not directly regulated by the state.

We wanted to know exactly why online sports betting sites in Iowa have grown so popular, so our team reached out to some bettors here and asked what they thought.

Online Betting Is Convenient

Iowa State Seal
There’s no doubt that online sports betting is way easier than land-based betting. For months, land-based sportsbooks have operated in Iowa. But some people just don’t want to make the drive to one of these venues.

The ability to make bets from anywhere with an internet connection has helped this industry grow extremely quickly. Most online sportsbooks in IA also offer fantastic mobile betting platforms. When it comes to convenience, there’s no doubt that real money sports betting sites are the better option.

There Are Tons of Betting Options

Some who are first getting into placings bets on sports online in Iowa are astounded by the sheer number of odds available. The majority of Iowa sports betting sites offer more odds than the top land-based sportsbooks in Las Vegas. This wide range of different wagering options has helped these sites grow extremely quickly.

This includes more than just sports, too. Many real money Iowa betting sites operating today now offer odds on fun novelty things like politics and the weather. Take a look at some of the sites we featured at the top of this page to see how many odds are being offered online nowadays. Maybe you will find something new to try that you hadn’t considered before.

So, Are Real Money Iowa Sports Betting Sites Actually Legal?

Yes. As we already mentioned, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May of 2018. Immediately afterward, every state had the option to legalize real money sports gambling. As of February 2020, more than 20 states have already passed bills to legalize and regulate sports betting.

Iowa is one of these states. Lawmakers here passed sports betting legislation in July of 2024. By the end of August, the first regulated sportsbooks began operating.

Obviously, this means that online sports betting in Iowa is now perfectly legal. There are now many regulated and unregulated online sportsbooks operating in the state. This state wasn’t always as liberal towards the sports betting industry as it is now.

Section 725.7 of the State Statutes gives a description of the state’s former laws towards “wagering.”

“Except as permitted in chapters 99B and 99D, a person shall not do any of the following: a. Participate in a game for any sum of money or other property of any value. b. Make any bet. c. For a fee, directly or indirectly, give or accept anything of value to be wagered or to be transmitted or delivered for a wager to be placed within or without the state of Iowa. d. For a fee, deliver anything of value which has been received outside the enclosure of a racetrack licensed under chapter 99D to be placed as wagers in the pari-mutuel pool or other authorized systems of wagering.”

Now is a great time to be a real money sports betting fan in Iowa. You can check out all of the online sportsbooks and land-based bookies operating in this state.

Will I Be Prosecuted for Playing at Sports Betting Sites in Iowa?

Almost certainly not. Iowa passed laws to legalize and regulate real money sports betting in mid-2019. There are now plenty of regulated real money Iowa betting sites available. Lawmakers here haven’t established any laws that prevent residents from wagering through unregulated Iowa betting sites either. Our team has not come across a single case of any individuals facing legal trouble for making sports wagers online here.

Please Note:

It’s important to note that we are not lawyers and always recommend you abide by your state’s laws. For more specific information on real money Iowa sports betting, feel free to contact a law professional with experience in the gambling industry or visit our United States gambling laws page for up-to-date information on gambling laws in the US.

How Do I Make Bets Safely Through Sports Betting Sites in IA?

It’s perfectly reasonable to be concerned about safety when first getting into online sports betting for money. This is still a fairly new industry. Many are unaware of how it even works. Fortunately, it’s extremely easy to stay perfectly safe betting on sports over the internet in this state.

Most Iowa real money online sports sites work extremely hard to keep their users safe, and the websites that don’t do so end up blacklisted before long.

Here are just a few tips to keep in mind that will help you stay safe while playing at sports betting sites in Iowa.

Play at Reputable Iowa Sports Betting Sites

As long as you play through reputable Iowa betting sites, there’s a very small chance you’ll ever encounter an issue. Reputable sports betting sites always offer safe payment options and a solid customer support system. Never join any Iowa sports betting sites unless you’re sure it’s safe and reliable.

Never Bet More Than You Can Afford

Online sports wagering is extremely fun. It’s so fun, that some individuals accidentally wager more money than they probably should. It can be easy to get carried away. We recommend you keep a record of your incoming and outgoing bets. This way, you can monitor whether you’re betting too much of your money and take a break when necessary.

Bet on Sports You’re Familiar With

The majority of sports betting sites in IA offer thousands of different odds every single day. With so many options, it can be tempting to throw money on a sporting event you don’t understand in hopes of winning big. This is usually a bad idea. Your odds will always be better when wagering on sports you’re familiar with.

Understand How Promotions Work

Promotions are one of the best features of Iowa betting sites. In case you’re unaware, these are essentially bonus offers that increase the amount of money you have to gamble with. Make sure you read the details of every promotion before you decide to utilize it. This will help you avoid any potential issues in the future.

Never Share Your Betting Account Information

Would you ever share your bank account information with anyone? That’s exactly how you should view your betting account too, because there’s real money on the line. Make sure to follow standard internet safety procedures when it comes to your account. Don’t use it on a share device and change your password once in a while.

FAQ About Online Sports Betting in Iowa

How Much Money Can I Win Playing at Iowa Sports Betting Sites?

That depends on you. Generally speaking, online sportsbooks allow you to win as much money as possible. The more you bet, the more money you’re able to take home. As we mentioned earlier, your odds of winning will increase when wagering on sports you’re familiar with.

Are Unregulated Sports Betting Sites Allowed in Iowa?

Lawmakers in Iowa began regulating the sports betting industry in August of 2024. There are now regulated and unregulated online sportsbooks here. Fortunately, both are legal. No laws in this state claim that it’s illegal to make wagers through sites not directly regulated by the state.

Is Online Sports Betting Easier Than Land-Based Betting?

In terms of convenience, absolutely. These Iowa betting sites allow bets to be placed from anywhere in the state with an internet connection. The actual betting process is no different. Your odds of winning are exactly the same whether you are betting online or inside a land-based sportsbook.

What Are the Best Promotions Available Through Sports Betting Sites in IA?

Promotions are one of the best tools available to boost the amount of money you have to bet with. The thing is, every promotion is different. Many feel that welcome bonuses are the best promotions available right now. These simply add real money onto whatever you first deposit into your betting account.

Why Should I Bet on Sports Online in Iowa?

Many claim that online betting is the most convenient option available to wager on sports. If you’re still skeptical of this industry, feel free to check out some sites we listed and see what’s available. Whether you’d like to bet on sports online or drive out to a land-based sportsbook, that choice is completely up to you.

Conclusion

Sports fans in Iowa are in a great place right now. The state has officially legalized sports betting and a huge number of regulated and unregulated real money online sportsbooks are now available in the Iowa. Legal sports betting sites in Iowa are already helping to bring the state millions of dollars a year through taxes.

Laws towards this industry can change fast. Take a look at our gambling news page from time to time for updates on sports betting laws around the country.

Make sure to reach out with any additional questions you have! Good luck making your bets.