Online Iowa Sports Betting Sites: Best IA Bookies

Whether you always searching for the best odds or if you prioritize hunting the juiciest bonuses, you will be able to find something in our selection of Iowa betting sites. Continue reading as we look at what makes a good online bookmaker in further detail.

An Analysis of Iowa Sports Betting Sites

The table above is the result of the sum of the scores we assigned to all Iowa sports betting sites for every important category. You can find general rankings in the right-hand navigation bar of the page.

The Criteria Used for Ranking Iowa Betting Sites

There is a lot to consider when signing up to an Iowa sports betting site. In the following sections, we look at what it takes to be a top online sportsbook. The best betting sites must do a lot of things well for us to give them our seal of approval.

We considered the ten most important criteria below when ranking the best Iowa online sportsbooks. Each of these factors is significant to the overall player experience. We will expand on each of these topics and discuss them in further detail.

Generous bonuses, a range of deposit methods, and competitive odds are all crucial for any bookmaker. There is a wide selection of Iowa sportsbooks to choose from and we hope we can point you in the right direction. We’ll talk about each of the above categories in the following sections.

Iowa Bookmakers at a Glance

It is important to find the right bookmaker to fit your preferences. Each of the bookmakers we feature has their strengths. The key is to find the one which fits your gambling style.

You can see some of the characteristics of each top sportsbook IA gamblers can wager at in the table below. Here you can see how many sports each bookmaker covers and an analysis of their coverage of football. Finally, we show which kinds of specialist or novelty bets they offer.

The top Iowa sports gambling sites have many markets for popular sports like football, basketball, and baseball. There should be regular promotions based around these top sports as bookmakers look to acquire new customers and stand out in a competitive industry.

If you follow one of the top sports, then we’re sure that you’ll have the opportunity to bet on it at Iowa sportsbooks. IA betting sites cover a range of sports, so even if your favorite sport is less popular, you still might be able to place a wager.

Live Betting in Iowa

Iowa sports betting gets truly exciting when you bet on live games as they happen. Live betting involves placing a bet on a sporting event after it has started, and it is a form of gambling that is getting increasingly popular.

Not only will you be able to get information after watching the beginning of the action. You’ll be able to get better odds if your selection is losing early on. Come from behind victories are even sweeter if you have money on them.

Tennis is a sport that is well suited to live betting. Frequent breaks in the play give plenty of chances to place a wager. Football and baseball are other sports where the regular breaks in the action offer ample opportunities to place a bet.

Basketball requires more concentration for live betting. The fast pace and high scoring nature of games means that live betting on the NBA is not for the faint-hearted. We aren’t saying it is impossible, but concentration and accurate up to the second scoring will be necessary.

Best Iowa Betting Site Odds

If you want to be a profitable sports gambler, then one of our biggest pieces of advice is to always try to get the best odds. The odds at Iowa sportsbooks vary between sports. While one bookmaker might offer the best value on NFL, another might be the top NBA bookie.

Above you can see the average odds from our recommended bookmakers over a variety of sports leagues. You can see how each of them compare and choose the best one depending on what you want to bet on.

These percentages are calculated by adding together the odds of all the markets for each sport and then finding the average. Gamblers can find an edge by always betting at the site with the best odds. We recommend setting up accounts with several online sportsbooks so you can do this.

Below are the Iowa online sports betting sites with the highest general average payouts. As a gambler, you should always wager at the bookie with the lowest vig. Take note and use this information when you sign up for your next Iowa betting site.

• BetMGM – 95.50% Average Payout
• Caesars – 95.11% Average Payout

Best Iowa Sports Betting Apps

With mobile betting apps gamblers can place their bets from anywhere. The top Iowa online sports betting sites all have slick and functional betting apps that can be used on smartphones.

Betting on fast-moving sports like basketball is so much easier using your smartphone. Wagering on football is much more convenient if you can do it from the comfort of your couch or if you are not at home.

The Top Bonuses at Iowa Sports Betting Sites

Bonuses are fantastic for IA betting site users, as it means you get more value on your bets. But remember, it is important to not just look at the bonus amount, but to also check the bonus terms and conditions.

Iowa sports gambling bonuses come in many forms. We’ve listed some of the most common bonus terms and conditions below. Often, you’ll encounter minimum odds levels, time limits and playthrough requirements (though this last one is more common with casinos).

• Playthrough Requirements
• Time Limits
• Minimum Deposits
• Validity Periods
• Minimum Odds Levels
• Minimum and Maximum Limits
• Valid Markets

There are many different Iowa sports betting promotions for customers. When you sign up, you’ll usually receive a first deposit bonus. The large dollar amounts of these initial offers can grab the attention, but the most important aspect is how long it takes any bonus money to clear.

Bonus bets are another common promotional offer for new and existing players at the best Iowa online sports betting sites. With those bets, it is important to check the terms and conditions and not let it induce you to wager more than you initially wanted to.

Sometimes a bonus isn’t as good as it first appears. The best bonuses offer low playthrough requirements and plenty of time to clear, while bad ones expire quickly or force you to bet more. Here we show the best bonus characteristics at IA sportsbooks.

Make sure you read the full terms and conditions before accepting a bonus. No matter how tempting a bonus might appear, you always need to check if it is too good to be true. We hope our tips will help you get the best out of Iowa betting site bonuses.

The Leading Payment Options for Iowa Bookmakers

The leading Iowa sportsbooks offer a variety of payment methods for their customers to choose from. The more payment methods an IA bookmaker accepts, the better it is for its customers. This is because every bettor has different needs and preferences when it comes to deposits and withdrawals.

As sports betting in Iowa is legal, you can use popular payment services such as Visa and MasterCard at many Iowa bookmakers. Here are the accepted payment methods at each of our top recommended IA betting sites.

With so many payment methods available for bettors, Iowa online sports betting is easy and convenient. Now that online gambling now completely legal in IA, the days of having to use sketchy payment methods are over.

Other deposit options may soon be adopted by legal Iowa betting sites. Crypto is becoming increasingly accepted as a trustworthy and legitimate payment option. Apple Pay is another payment method that is rising in popularity. Whatever your preferences, you’ll be able to find a payment method that fits your needs.

Being Safe at Online Iowa Online Bookmakers

It Is now completely legal to wager at Iowa sports betting sites, so there is no reason to use unlicensed offshore bookmakers.

All legal sportsbooks in Iowa are licensed and regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Legal sportsbooks must pass several tests and checks before they receive a license from the IRGC. If you only gamble on legal sites, then you protect yourself from scams and illegal activity.

If you gamble with legal bookmakers, you are also protected in case of a dispute. If a disagreement occurs, you can file a complaint to the IRGC, and they will mediate and attempt to find a fair solution.

At each sportsbook, IA gamblers should always look for signs that it is trustworthy. Legal Iowa betting sites must adhere to high levels of online security to receive their license.

DigiCert and Cloudflare are reputable IT security companies that work with IA sportsbooks to protect your information. If you see their logos on a betting site, then you know it possesses the highest level of online security and is a safe place to gamble.

In Iowa, legal sports betting companies should offer links and resources to help deal with problem gambling. If you have difficulties arising from legal sports betting, then the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program can assist you.

You can voluntarily self-exclude from all forms of gambling in IA. Self-exclusion is for a minimum of five years and can’t be reversed. It is a good method of forcing yourself to stop betting but make sure you want to do it before you go ahead with it.

The National Council on Problem Gambling and Gamblers Anonymous are two nationwide organizations that can help. The NCPG provides a round-the-clock confidential helpline (1-800-522-4700) for anyone that needs assistance.

The Importance of Customer Service

Getting good customer service at Iowa sports betting sites is important for gamblers. You might need customer support for a variety of issues including ID verification, settling bets, deposits, and cashouts.

Here we look at various aspects of customer support and why you might use each of them. Each type of customer support is useful in different circumstances. If you pick one that suits your issue, then you are more likely to get a positive outcome.

Bettors should expect excellent customer service at all Iowa sportsbooks. Many customers prefer live chat support, but some find it easier to use email support and receive a reply later. Often you need to sign up for an account before you can speak to a customer service representative.

Below we list some of the best and worst customer service traits that an IA sportsbook can have. 24/7 access to support and a variety of contact methods are two key criteria in measuring if a bookmaker offers good customer service.

Bad customer service can be downright frustrating for any customer. Waiting a long time for a response is a big red flag. Having a response that doesn’t help or answer your question is even more infuriating. Good customer service involves receiving accurate and prompt replies to your queries.

The best Iowa online sports betting companies offer several different methods of getting in contact and will reply quickly. Ideally bookmakers will offer 24/7 customer service. Knowing that the IA sportsbook you gamble with is reliable and responsive should be important for all gamblers from the Hawkeye State.

Conducting Iowa Online Bookmaker Reviews

We reviewed all Iowa sportsbooks in our quest to find the top legal bookmakers in the state. We have a lot of experience in the gambling industry, and we know what a customer is looking for in an IA bookmaker – so you can trust our opinion.

We judge a betting site by several criteria and we’re happy to share the results of our review process with you here on this page. You can be sure that we’ll only recommend the best betting sites in Iowa to our readers.

How Average Payouts are Calculated?

We analyzed hundreds of betting markets to find the best the best average odds. Some IA sportsbooks have better odds than others and each bookmaker focuses on different sports and priorities.

The best advice we can give is to always shop around to get the best odds. The differences between odds at different Iowa sports betting sites might seem small – but combined over hundreds of bets and it becomes more significant and can impact your bottom line.

We recommend having accounts with several of the top Iowa bookmakers. That way you know you’ll always be able to get the best odds, no matter what you want to bet on.

If you are confused about how payouts are calculated at Iowa sportsbooks, then you are in the right place because we are here to help. The following paragraphs will help you understand further how we work out average payouts and why it is so important.

We use a simple formula to calculate the bookie’s margin or vigorish (more commonly known as vig or juice). At every sportsbook Iowa gamblers can bet at, payout rates vary. As a bettor, you are always aiming to find the lowest vig.

The formula can be used for all sports to work out the vigorish taken by each Iowa sports betting site. The most popular betting markets will tend to have the lowest vig. Whereas the more obscure or niche sports will usually have vig on the higher side.

You can use a simple method to work out the payout level from any Iowa online sports betting market. First, convert the odds of each outcome to a percentage and then add up the percentages. Then put your result into the following formula. (100 / sum of percentages) * 100.

You can then calculate the margin a bookie is taking by subtracting the payout rate from 100. (100-payout rate). The closer the result is to 100, the better – as that means an Iowa sportsbook is taking less vigorish out of that particular market.

Iowa sports betting websites aim to balance their books and have an even amount of exposure to all betting outcomes. By doing this, it doesn’t matter to them which team wins the game, as their commission ensures that they will make a profit regardless.

The Impact of Various Payouts and Commissions

Even a slight increase in the payout rate of an Iowa online sports betting site can have an impact on whether you make a profit or loss in the long term. For this reason, it is vital that you bet with a bookmaker who offers fair payout rates.

The table below shows how higher payout rates benefit all gamblers, no matter who they wager on. This example features the odds in a ‘pick em’ game, with two teams having a 50% chance to win.

You can see in the table how the odds are worse on both sides when the payout rate is lower. One or two per cent might not seem like it makes a difference, but over many bets, it will add up to something more substantial.

From the table, you can see with just an 8% reduction in payout (from 97% to 89%) the player loses $1.52 in value on a $10 bet on either team. Low payout rates make it very hard to be a profitable gambler.

If you are giving up this kind of value each time you make a bet, then you are leaving money on the table with each wager. That’s why wagering on a site with a high payout rate should be a top priority for any savvy sports bettor.

Testing Customer Service

Customer service hours are an important factor when reviewing Iowa sports betting sites. The more hours per day that a sportsbook has customer service operating, the better for its site users. We test the customer service of each IA sportsbook to see how they rank against each other.

If a bookmaker has fast response times to customer queries, then it goes a long way towards building trust. Directly addressing the customer’s problem or issue is also important. If a betting site can do these two things well then it gets high marks from us.

Rating Available Payment Options

The Iowa sportsbooks that offer the biggest selection of payment options are the ones that score the best in our eyes. Gamblers from Iowa all prefer different payment options, so if a bookmaker offers a wide variety of payment choices, it scores well with us.

We give higher ratings to betting sites without fees for certain deposit and withdrawal methods. However, occasionally the payment provider might charge their own fees, so it is always best to check its terms and conditions.

Judging the Overall Platform

At every Sportsbook, Iowa bettors should be looking for an excellent website interface. IA online bookmaker websites should be fast loading and responsive. The less time you spend worrying about the design of a site, the more time you will have to focus on placing your wagers.

Iowa sports gambling websites that work faster enable you to get bets locked in before odds change. The layout of a bookmaker’s website goes a long way towards a positive user experience.

How We Give Bonus Points for Extra Features

We have ten additional points that we distribute to an Iowa sports betting site for the extra features that it offers. Some of the things we look for include an active social media presence, VIP programs, and company news. These extra things can give a bookmaker an extra boost.

We count how many live streaming options an Iowa online sports betting site has and award it zero to three points. The same process and point scale is used for social media activity. Two points are issued for awards won and two further points for virtual betting.

Comparing Online and In-Person Gambling

Overall, it comes down to your personal preference. If you are new to online betting, then we hope we’ve managed to show you some of the positives of it. You are also in the right place to find an IA betting site to sign up with.

Betting Exchange & Early Cashout Availability

IA was one of the first states to offer legalized wagering and the Iowa sports betting industry seems to be open to innovations and progressive developments. Betting exchanges and early cashouts are two such innovations, and we will look further at each of them in detail.

Betting Exchanges vs. IA Online Sports Betting Sites

Betting exchanges are a popular alternative to standard bookmakers in other parts of the world – especially the UK. Betting exchanges allow you to wager directly against a fellow gambler, with the betting exchange acting as the middleman.

At the moment, Iowa online sports betting law does not allow betting exchanges. We don’t know what the future will bring, and betting exchanges might become legal in the Hawkeye State. Because of that, it is worth taking a moment to find out more about them.

Unlike at standard Iowa sportsbooks, the odds at betting exchanges are set by fellow gamblers. If a bettor wants to take the other side of your bet, the betting exchange matches you together and takes a small commission from each side.

You can also take the other side of the bet yourself and essentially act as the bookmaker. If you want to bet against a particular team or athlete, then you can accept bets from other gamblers. If their bet loses then you’ll bank a profit.

The Early Cashout

At Iowa sports betting sites, gamblers should always remember the early cashout function. This means cashing out your winning bet before the sporting event has finished. You won’t get your full profits, but you’ll be protected from any last-minute surprises if the result changes and your bet ends up losing.

At any sportsbook, IA gamblers might find it smart to use the early cashout function. It will reduce the variance on your bets, and you can lock in a guaranteed profit.

The History of Online Sports Gambling in Iowa

Legal gambling in Iowa didn’t begin until the 1980s. In 1983 betting on horse and dog racing was approved in IA. In the same year the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission was formed to oversee the industry.

The Iowa State Lottery began in 1985 and Riverboat casinos were introduced on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in 1989.

In 2018 the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed, opening the way for legal sports betting around the United States. Iowa was one of the first states to take advantage and on May 13, 2019, bill SF617 legalized online sports betting in Iowa.

Iowa sports betting sites launched on August 15, 2019. Initially, Iowans had to visit a brick-and-mortar to complete registration before they could bet online. Fortunately, the in-person registration requirement was removed on January 1st, 2021 – making Iowa sports gambling a lot easier.

Licensing Requirements of Legal Iowa Betting Sites

Bookmakers in IA are licensed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Legal Iowa gambling sites must partner with a casino or retail sportsbook to receive a license. All IA online sportsbooks must pass regulatory checks and tests to meet the licensing requirements of the IRGC.

Legal Iowa bookmakers must pay their share of taxes to the state. Iowa betting sites are taxed at a flat rate of 6.75% of net revenue.

The only way to be completely safe when gambling in the Hawkeye State is to do so with a legal Iowa sports betting site. Offshore black-market betting sites are illegal under the UIGEA. The IRGC is unable to protect you if you have a dispute with an unregulated gambling site.

We only recommend safe and trustworthy betting sites for IA gamblers. The legal Iowa sportsbooks listed on this site go through stringent security checks by multiple third parties. The reputation of a bookmaker is important to us when we consider whether to list them on our website.

Black Market Bookmakers Operating in Iowa

Conclusion

Online bookmakers in Iowa are fully legal and bettors from the Hawkeye State have a wide variety of options to choose from. It is a competitive market, so there are great bonuses and promotions available, like the ones we feature on this site.

We’ve set out what we consider to be the top sportsbooks in Iowa. It is now down to you to read our reviews and find a bookmaker that you feel comfortable with. When you’ve found your ideal IA betting site, you can sign up, deposit, and place your first bet.

Each of the Iowa sportsbooks we recommend is fully licensed and safe to bet on. We value the safety and security of our site readers and only feature Iowa online sports betting sites that are reliable and trustworthy.

At the top Iowa sports betting sites, you can wager on the NBA and NFL. Baseball, hockey, and NASCAR are also available for Iowa gamblers to place a bet on.

Online sports betting is legal in IA but playing online casino games and poker is still against the law. If you want to gamble at a casino in Iowa, then you’ll need to visit one of the brick-and-mortar casinos in the state.

We are constantly monitoring the Iowa online sports betting market and we update our rankings monthly. We also review each new legal Iowa betting site that launches to see if it meets our standards. Bookmark our site and check back regularly to see our new recommendations.

FAQs About Iowa Betting

We hope you enjoyed our guide to Iowa online sports betting. We aim to make our guide as information-packed as we can. Nevertheless, our readers frequently have more specific queries. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions that our readers ask about Iowa betting sites.